2017 Americas Rugby Championship

[Brigantine]

I got my time zones wrong or something and only caught the end of the Brazil - Canada game.

Canada bouncing back after 2 defeats to Uruguay, but it's too late. It's looking like they will have to beat either Romania or Samoa now to even qualify for Japan.

I don't feel too bad for Brazil, they had a good year last year but they're still very much Tier 3 and weren't really expected to win. And they got to finish on a good note!

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Uruguay vs USA kicking off.



US victory gives them the grand slam. A loss opens the door to Uruguay and Argentina XV.

 

[Welshdragon2000]

Didn't see the game but wow USA that is a big win against Uruguay. Considering they're ranked exactly the same pretty much, to come away scoring 60 points is very impressive! Are we looking at a potentially top 12 team here or was Uruguay just understrength?

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Didn't see the game but wow USA that is a big win against Uruguay. Considering they're ranked exactly the same pretty much, to come away scoring 60 points is very impressive! Are we looking at a potentially top 12 team here or was Uruguay just understrength?

Uruguay just lack the physical specimens to compete upfront and were dismantled, so it is hard to evaluate how strong the US are. But Uruguay had won their last 11 or 12 tests and I read they recalled some of their stronger players for this match so the US deserve a lot of credit.

It is becoming clear that their former coach John Mitchell is pretty damn capable in setting teams on the right path, their current coach Gold was coaching in the English top flight (so might be decent) and they have a new professional domestic league setting up in the next few weeks.

Lots of potential upside but I've no idea how quickly it'll kick in. Hopefully this new league fairs better than the last one. They are pulling away from Argentina XV and might quickly start to dominate the ARC if Argentina don't send in some more experienced players. I think they should aim to be on a par with Tonga or Samoa in the next few years and take it from there.

 

[Welshdragon2000]

Perhaps Uruguay's players are tired after World Cup qualifying games and no rest afterwards going straight into a full blown competition.

Argentina XV will need to field a stronger team next year I think to keep up with the USA which is an excellent thing.

I was raving about Uruguay's improvement the past few weeks and they have done very well BUT losing at home by 40 points to a team who are meant to slightly below Uruguay's level is very disappointing. Hats off to USA though for what they're doing now.

They are my fourth team )) behind Wales, Spain and Georgia, and I have lots of friends living in America so I naturally have a strong following for them and want them to do well.

For years we've been saying that USA could be one of the top sides on the world if they really wanted and they've never delivered here. Interest levels are growing massively and rugby is finally being played in schools across the country so awareness of the game is increasingly importantly. Could we be seeing the beginning of USA's rise? Give it 15 years I say personally before they break into the top 10, that's so long as the upward tradjectory is maintained.
Uruguay will be a solid top 15 side in the future. A second super rugby franchise for Argentina has been talked about so how about a general South American franchise including some Uruguayans? Unlikely I know but I feel something needs to be done to help Uruguay and the other South American sides given their progress of late.

It seems this competition hasn't been so popular on this forum as I was hoping, and I think the skill level and general quality has risen a lot over the past couple of years. Already looking forward to next year's competition

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Yeah, this tournament has yet to capture the imagination of the general public or TRF. It is a long term project.

I think every nation competing in it benefits a lot from being able to test players and having a lot more competitive tests, so long may it continue.

I was a bit disappointed in Chile and Brazil this year compared to previous ones and I think that made this edition a bit more predictable.

 

[Welshdragon2000]

I was a bit disappointed in Chile and Brazil this year compared to previous ones and I think that made this edition a bit more predictable.

Me too, Brazil caused an upset last year and the year before but they failed to deliver this year sadly. They had their chance against Uruguay and blew it. I don't think they've gone backwards at all though, just the other teams have improved

 

[amz]

the enthusiasm of the beginnings

 

[Welshdragon2000]

the enthusiasm of the beginnings

The over optimism on my part probably