Chile stun Canada with historic victory

It was a massive occasion for Chile on Saturday evening as they powered to their first ever win over the Canadians. 

The match took place at Estadio Elías Figueroa and the favourable result for the Chileans means they advance to the Americas 2 Qualifer series. 

Canada’s flyhalf Peter Nelson drew first blood with a penalty but the game’s momentum swung in the favour of the home side shortly thereafter.  

Santiago Videla slotted two penalties to put his side ahead before a Canadian box kick was neatly taken by Chile flyhalf Rodrigo Fernandez who sliced through the defence to dot down the game’s first try.  

Canada squandered a swift chance to respond but conceded a penalty at a driving maul. Canada found themselves in trouble again after another Fernandez break but managed to recover and clear the ball before more damage was done. 

Videla slotted another penalty to make the score 16-3 as the teams jogged off to the sheds for half-time. 

Canada began the second half with determination and purpose and hooker Eric Howard scored his side’s first try of the game off a rolling maul. Nelson’s successful conversion tightened things up as the Canadians found themselves only 6 points adrift. 

Chile were clearly men with a mission, however, and struck with a try from Mattias Dittus. 

Canada’s lineout drive served them well again with Andrew Quattrin dotting down the visitors’ second try. 

A worrying element of the Canadian game, which plagued them throughout, was their restarts, and Chile capitalised with full force, gaining the ball back and sending Videla  over in the line to put the writing on the wall. 

The Condores were reduced to 14 men for the closing stages after a Salvador Lues yellow card and Canada managed to run in another try in the game’s final movement but it proved to be only a consolation.  

The result is very significant as it means that, for the first time, Canada do not qualify for the RWC.

SCORING

CHILE 33
Tries – R. Fernández (24′), M. Dittus (50′), S. Videla (69′)
Cons – S. Videla 3/3 (25′, 51′, 70′)
Pens – S. Videla 4/4 (8′, 17′, 34′, 60′)
Yellow cards – A. Böhme (47′), S. Lues (74′)

CANADA 24
Tries – E. Howard (46′), A. Quattrin (66′), K. Lloyd (79′)
Cons – P. Nelson 2/2 (47′, 67′), R. Povey 1/1 (80′)
Pens – P. Nelson 1/1 (5′)
Yellow cards – D. Sears-Duru (59′)