A slobberknocker played out in Rosario on Friday evening. Super Rugby Americas leaders, Los Dogos reinforced their titles aspirations with a hard-fought 27-26 away victory over Los Capibaras. The back-and-forth contest had Los Dogos leading 14-10 at half-time but more points in the second-half saw both claiming bonus points with just the one point separating the competitors on full-time.
What ultimately separated the teams was goal-kicking. In his first start for Los Dogos, Puma Nicolás Roger converted 3/4 of Los Cordobeses tries. In contrast, Ignacio Dogliani went 0/3 at concerting Los Capibaras’ second-half tries.
There was just one score in the opening quarter. Juan Bautista Baronio landed a penalty at the close fo the quarter for Los Capibaras. The first try came two minutes later with Valentín Cabral finishing off a good attack down the right side for Los Dogos.
The next try was possibly the best of the match. Following a lineout center Facundo Pueyrredón provided a sharp pass for Luciano Avaca. He bumped off a defender before finding Mateo Soler who finished off the move.
Martín Vaca scored the third, and final, try of the opening half. The hooker did so from a maul to score the one first half-half try for the home side. Juan Bautista Baronio’s conversion made it a four point deficit in the final score of the half.
The second-half was different. This time, Los Capibaras were, for the most part, the protagonists. The home side ran in three tries while conceding two. Fullback Franco Rossetto score the first. It came following a break up midfield from second-rower Lucas Bur and the final pass from Ignacio Dogliani.
Luciano Avaca canceled out the score with an individual try for Los Dogos. He kicked and chased down the left wing side, regathered and scored. His opposite number, Gino DiCapua then scored in the left corner for Los Capibaras. It came from an attacking scrum.
DiCapua’s try involved accurate passing with Ignacio Dogliani notably involved. The replacement fly half also provided the try assist for the next try with center Bruno Heit scoring. However, with Dogliani’s goal-kicking being erratic, Los Dogos were able to come back and snatch victory.
A brutal end for Los Capibaras saw the home side beaten. With time up, scrum-half Nicolás Viola darted left and passed to replacement Ernesto Giudice who scored in the corner.
Both teams will feature in the play-offs and based on this contest a rematch would be must-viewing for followers of Super Rugby Americas.
 SCORING |
CAPIBARAS (25)
TRY – M Vaca (35′); F Rossetto (53′); G DiCapua (69′); B Heit (72′)
CON – JB Baronio (36′)
PEN – JB Baronio (20′)
DOGOS (26)
TRY – V Cabral (22′); M Soler (27′); L Avaca (66′); E Giúdice (80′)
CON – N Roger (23′, 28′, 67′)
YC – J Greising Revol (66′)
| LINE-UPS |
CAPIBARAS
1 Diego Correa, 2 Martín Vaca, 3 Enzo Avaca, 4 Lorenzo Colidio, 5 Lucas Bur, 6 Ignacio Gandini (capt.), 7 Felipe Villagrán, 8 Manuel Bernstein, 9 Alejo Sugasti, 10 Juan Bautista Baronio, 11 Gino DiCapua, 12 Guido Chesini, 13 Bruno Heit, 14 Lautaro Cipriani, 15 Franco Rossetto
Replacements: 16 Bernardo Lis, 17 Juan Ignacio Rodriguez, 18 Ignacio Orsetti, 19 Ignacio Alejandro Gallo, 20 Bautista José Grenon, 21 Juan Lovell, 22 Ignacio Dogliani, 23 Tomás Sigura
DOGOS
1 Nicolás Revol, 2 Juan Greising Revol, 3 Octavio Ignacio Filippa, 4 Lautaro Simes, 5 Enzo Ocampo, 6 Augusto Cugnini, 7 Valentín Cabral (capt.), 8 Genaro Fissore, 9 Nicolás Viola, 10 Nicolás Roger, 11 Luciano Avaca, 12 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 13 Facundo Pueyrredón, 14 Agustin De Vertiz, 15 Mateo Soler
Replacements: 16 Tomás Montilla, 17 Juan Aguirre, 18 Galo Fernández, 19 Valentín Gozalvez, 20 Tomás Maria Gómez González, 21 Genaro Podesta, 22 Facundo Rodriguez, 23 Ernesto Giudice
| MATCH HIGHLIGHTS |
| MATCH OFFICIALS |
VS
REFEREE: Pablo Deluca (Argentina)
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Juan Sebastián Maio (Argentina); Juan Vega (Argentina)
