Uruguay Stun USA in Seattle
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Uruguay sealed their first win over USA on US soil as they ran in 5 tries to claim a 25-32 victory over the 2018 ARC Champions.
The South Americans were quickest out the gates scoring in the 4th minute before a Joe Taufete'e brace put USA in the lead. Federico Favaro and Juan Manuel Cat hit back for the visitors to give them a 13-19 lead at the break with Will Hooley adding a penalty to USA's total.
Uruguay started the second half as they did the first with Federico Favaro scoring his second try of the game inside the first minute of the second half before Joe Taufete'e completed his hat trick at the back of yet another rolling maul.
Nicholas Freitas put Uruguay even further in front following a stellar counter-attack from their own 22 before Uruguay were reduced to 14 men with captain Juan Manuel Gaminara was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle.
USA looked as though they could snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat inside the final 10 minutes when Eagles captain Blaine Scully went over to make it a four-point ball game but Uruguay managed to hold the Eagles out and earned a penalty as the clock turned red. Andres Vilaseca stepped up to slot the penalty from long range as the game finished 25-32.
The shining light for USA was hooker Joe Taufete'e who broke Keith Earls record of 15 tries from a front rower with the American front rower taking his tally to 18 in just 21 tests.
🇺🇸 @USARugby's hat-trick hero and now all time front row top try scorer, Joe Taufete'e crashes over to create history at the Americas Rugby Championship!#ARC2019 pic.twitter.com/zdM1XcPHHE
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) March 3, 2019
USA's loss comes off the back of a week where there the talk of a potential World League could see the Americans join Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa in the Rugby Championship along with Japan.
PHOTO VIA: markdavidjanzen