For the second time in World Cup history Uruguay have qualified as the Americas 2 representatives. Los Teros realised their dreams with a remarkable 32-31 victory, overturning a 15-point first half deficit to win the game and with it the series to book their spot at the 2019 World Cup in Japan. The final score on aggregate read Uruguay 70, Canada 60. It was an absorbing match at the Estadio Charrúa and not at all smooth sailing for the home side.

Felipe Berchesi’s kicking woes continued as he missed his first shot at goal just two minutes into the match. Brock Staller made no such mistake, first blood to the Canadians moments later. The heat was on the home side and with the Teros on the defensive Canada worked an overlap, Tyler Ardron putting DTH van der Merwe away around the corner for the first try. Staller couldn’t convert but the gap on aggregate was down to a single point.

A heavy blow struck Uruguay when star halfback Santiago Arata was forced off with a shoulder injury immediately following the try. Agustin Ormaechea came on but the Teros were still under immense pressure and from a driving maul Taylor Paris fell over the line, a forward’s try going to the winger. This time Staller made good on the extras and Canada were up 15-0 and with it a six point lead in the series.

At last Uruguay found their groove and after a huge breakout Canada were caught offside deep in their own end. Ormaechea took the quick tap and found Ignacio Dotti off his shoulder, the second row crashing over for his third try in three games. Berchesi converted before he and Staller exchanged penalty goals to make it 18-10 to Canada at the break with only a single point between them on aggregate.

The second half could not have started any worse for Canada. Under immediate pressure from the kickoff, Uruguay turned the ball over and Juan Manuel Cat had just enough momentum to reach through the tackle of Ben LeSage to touch down over the line. Berchesi’s conversion was again askew and but he made amends, returning fire after Staller knocked over his third successful goal.

A hammer blow struck Canada’s confidence in the 64th minute. Poor handling had cost Canada points just moments earlier on the Uruguayan goal line and a loose pass hit the dirt instead its target. Andrés Vilaseca was on hand to hack the ball ahead. The bounce was perfect and he graciously accepted the reward with his dive over the line all but sealing the victory.

With desperation setting in Canada got one back with Djustice Sears-Duru on the back of a driving maul. Staller’s conversion hit the uprights, however, meaning the aggregate was still two scores away. As the clock ticked away Canada were driven backwards on their own ball as Matt Heaton attempted to keep another off-target pass from finding the touchline he inadvertently sent it straight into the path of Vilaseca. The centre raced clear for a double and the stadium erupted.

Canada remained in the hunt to at least win the match and the ending could only be described as bizarre. van der Merwe took the outside to score his second try in the 80th minute but instead of kicking what should have been a routine conversion from the tee, Shane O’Leary attempted a drop-goal that spun away to end the contest. The kick would have at least given Canada the win and some valuable rankings points but instead they leave Montevideo with nothing but questions.

Both sides must now switch their immediate focus to the Americas Rugby Championship, a difficult process especially for Canada whose confidence was already badly shaken. At the same time Los Teros can case their eye to Japan while Canada must instead consider its options with just nine months and seven games until the Repechage, last chance saloon for World Cup qualification.

Los Teros celebrate their greatest ever victory, with the streets of Montevideo sure to sing long into the night. The new dawn of Uruguayan rugby has arrived.

SCORING

URUGUAY 32

Tries – I. Dotti (33’), J. Cat (42’), A. Vilaseca 2 (64’, 73’)

Cons – F. Berchesi 3/4 (34’, 65’, 74’)

Pens – F. Berchesi 2/3 (37’, 55’)

CANADA 31

Tries – D. van der Merwe 2 (12’, 80’), T. Paris (25’), D. Sears-Duru (70’)

Cons – B. Staller 1/3 (26’), S. O’Leary 0/1

Pens – B. Staller 3/3 (3’, 39’, 53’)

TEAMS

URUGUAY

1 Mateo Sanguinetti (17 Matías Benítez 76’), 2 Germán Kessler (16 Carlos Pombo 76’), 3 Mario Sagario (18 Juan Echeverría 68’), 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Rodrigo Capó Ortega (19 Manuel Leindekar 68’), 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara (capt.), 7 Franco Lamanna, 8 Alejandro Nieto (20 Rodolfo Garese 78’), 9 Santiago Arata (21 Agustín Ormaechea 13’), 10 Felipe Berchesi, 11 Nicolás Freitas, 12 Andrés Vilaseca, 13 Juan Manuel Cat (23 Joaquín Prada 71’), 14 Leandro Leivas (22 Gastón Mieres 76’), 15 Rodrigo Silva

CANADA

1 Hubert Buydens (17 Djustice Sears-Duru 61’), 2 Ray Barkwill (16 Benoît Pifféro 62’), 3 Jake Ilnicki (18 Cole Keith 45’-55’), 4 Brett Beukeboom (19 Kyle Baillie 62’), 5 Evan Olmstead, 6 Lucas Rumball, 7 Matt Heaton (20 Admir Cejvanovic 76’), 8 Tyler Ardron, 9 Phil Mack (capt.) (21 Gordon McRorie 68’), 10 Shane O’Leary, 11 DTH van der Merwe (23 Kainoa Lloyd 26’-30’), 12 Nick Blevins, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Taylor Paris, 15 Brock Staller

Not used: 22 Patrick Parfrey

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee; Luke Pearce (RFU)

Attendance: 13,000