Uruguay put USA away to qualify for RWC 2023

Uruguay will appear in Pool A of the 2023 World Cup in France after defeating the USA  34-15 at Estadio Charrúa on Saturday afternoon. 

The home side drew first blood with a Rodrigo Silva try after some phase-work close to the USA line. 

The USA hit back shortly thereafter with a penalty off the boot of Will Magie. The sides battled it out until the first USA cam courtesy of Mika Kruse after sharp work from Ruben de Haas put him away off of an attacking scrum close to the line. 

Uruguay knocked over another two penalties to make the score 13-8 at half-time. 

The hosts wasted no time in the second half as Gastón Mieres’ hard work was rewarded with a try barely a minute into the stanza. The subsequent successful conversion stretched Uruguay’s lead to 12 as alarm bells began to sound in the USA camp. 

The pressure from Uruguay did not let up and Facundo Gattas crashed over the try line not long after Mieres’ effort. Their fourth try came as the game hit the hour mark as Freitas’ quick footwork opened the way for Silva to dot down.  

The USA scored a consolation try through Christian Dyer but it was not enough to mount a comeback in the face of the fired up Uruguay. 

SCORING 

URUGUAY 34 
Tries – R. Silva 2 (5′, 55′), G. Mieres (42′), F. Gattas (48′) 
Cons – F. Favaro 4/4 (6′, 43′, 49′, 56′) 
Pens – F. Favaro 2/3 (34′, 38′) 

USA 15 
Tries – M. Kruse (28′), C. Dyer (64′) 
Cons – M. Magie 0/1, L. Carty 1/1 (65′) 
Pens – W. Magie 1/1 (9′)