While the rugby world was captivated by the thrilling opening to the Nations Championship on Saturday, many will not have been aware that another global rugby competition was taking place at the same time.
The World Rugby Nations Cup, a competition involving tier two nations, kicked off in the Americas, with Georgia, Samoa, Chile, Tonga and the USA all winning their opening matches, while Spain and Canada battled it out to an enthralling draw.
World Rugby Nations Cup Results
Uruguay 34-41 Georgia
Uruguay dominated the opening 10 minutes at the Estadio Charrua when hooker Joaquin Myszka dove over. Georgia soon recovered, scoring through Luka Matkava with a try and two penalty kicks, while Nikolozi Sutidze added another five-pointer.
The tide would turn once again before the half, with Jean Cotarmanac’h slotting three points for the hosts, before a sin-bin for Georgia full-back Davit Niniashvili resulted in Juan Gonzalez scoring a brilliant try in the corner, thanks to a wonderful pass from Ignacio Alvarez Akiki.
Felipe Arcos Perez made it level shortly into the second half before two Uruguayan yellow cards would tip the game firmly back in Georgia’s favour.
A penalty try and scores from both Tornike Jalagonia and Mikheil Alania were enough to take Georgia beyond all doubt, while the hosts managed just two consolation tries through Juan Manuel Alonso and Ignacio Rodriguez.
Samoa 66-19 Hong Kong China
The Samoan national side confidently dismantled the World Cup qualified Hong Kong China at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos.
At 38-7 up at half-time, it was only a penalty try that stopped the visitors heading into the break with nothing to show for their efforts.
Joel Lam, the nephew of famous former player and current Bristol Bears coach Pat Lam, was sin-binned midway through the opening 40. He wasn’t the only player to fall foul of the referee’s wallet, however, as Joe Barker of Hong Kong China was also given 10 minutes’ rest at the end of the half.
Despite being a man down heading into the second 40, the visitors came out flying, scoring two tries in quick succession to give their fans real hope. The gulf in class was clear to see, however, as Samoa pulled away with four second-half tries.
For the Samoans, Aki Seiuli, Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia, Miracle Faiilagi, Iakopo Mapu, Tuna Tuitama and Connor Tupai all scored tries, while Warren Solomona and Elisapeta Alofipo both bagged a brace. Hong Kong China’s tries were scored by Harry Sayer and Marcus Ramage.
Chile 48-31 Romania
The Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos was the setting for this highly entertaining match-up, as Chile resisted a comeback attempt to secure an impressive opening-day victory.
Despite taking an early lead, Chile found themselves behind in the 25th minute when Romania went over for their second try in quick succession. Ill-discipline on either side opened the game up to what would become an end-to-end encounter, with both sides swapping scores throughout.
With just a quarter of the game remaining, the scores were within three, but two tries from the hosts were enough to put enough daylight between the two sides as Romania couldn’t muster a response.
Tries for Chile came from Javier Carrasco and Lucas Berti, while Raimundo Martinez and Diego Escobar got on the scoresheet twice each. Stefan Buruiana, Adrian Mitu, Dylan Schwartz and Marius Simionescu were the try scorers for Romania.
Tonga 36-26 Zimbabwe
With the first score coming only in the 23rd minute, this took a while to get going, but from then on, Tonga looked to be in full control of the scoreboard. That was until a second-half resurgence and some ill-discipline resulted in the swing of the scoreboard.
With 15 minutes remaining, the momentum changed again, and Tonga charged to victory after Zimbabwe went down to 14 men.
Tries from Tonga included Fatongia Paea, Samiuela Moli, Telusa Veainu, Fine Inisi and Sione Tuipulotu. Zimbabwe scorers were Simba Mandioma, Godfrey Muzanargwo, Tinotenda Mavesere and Edward Sigauke.
Canada 42-42 Spain
Report from World Rugby: It was thrilling from start to finish; one that was exhausting to watch, never mind if you were one of the players. Aerial battles, end-to-end attacks, non-stop line-breaks, and a scoreline fitting for the occasion.
From the offset, Spain’s attack looked sharp and great awareness from Gonzalo Lopez set up Alberto Carmona in the corner.
Spain’s ill-discipline, however – a common theme throughout the match – was already hindering their momentum. The constant penalties Los Leones gave away put Canada in dangerous positions, and they took full advantage. Mason Flesch was the standout, proving a threat every time he carried and bagging a first-half brace.
Spain were dominant in the scrum, while Martiniano Cian was in scintillating form at outside centre. He made line-break after line-break, at times out of what looked like nothing, setting up two tries for Estanislao Bay with virtually the same move.
You just never knew where the game was headed. After a sustained period of Spanish pressure, in which Canada held out, they went straight up the other end and scored from a maul.
A converted Spanish try followed, and when Gonzalo Lopez made it 35-35 with 10 minutes to play, it was a mouth-watering prospect for every spectator in Edmonton.
Canada looked like they were going to score, building phases and thinking they’d grounded but instead they’d knocked it on. Spain then, with a scrum on virtually their own try-line, won a penalty and from a lineout thought they’d won it when a break from John Wessel Bell set up Kerman Aurrekoetxea to score.
The drama was not done, though, and Canada fought back heroically to score after the clock turned red, with Kyle Tremblay showing incredible awareness to come in from his wing. After a TMO check, the try stood, and Takoda McMullin knocked the conversion over to signify the end of an all-time classic.
USA 30-29 Portugal
Report from World Rugby: A rousing rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner capped off the anthems, adding to the party atmosphere of these 250th Independence Day celebrations. The crowd at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park were certainly fired up.
The excitement was short-lived as a fine grubber from Manuel Vareiro was chased and brilliantly finished by Manuel Cardoso Pinto. Portugal throughout the first half looked the more well-balanced side with a stronger kicking game, solid lineout and physically superior.
Another grubber, this time from Vincent Pinto, was fortunate with the bounce but was gratefully received by Cardoso Pinto.
The Eagles eventually started causing problems for Os Lobos’ defence and Cory Daniel scored in the corner. Paddy Ryan then took full advantage of a Portuguese sin-bin.
Cardoso Pinto followed when he bagged a first-half hat-trick, with Samuel Marques pulling the strings at scrum-half.
Perry Mayo could not have imagined a more eventful way to start his international career. He first made an incredible try-saving tackle after a lovely looping kick from Vareiro was collected by Raffaele Storti, who thought he was through.
The moment the match turned, however, came when Vareiro, who had been exceptional until then, collected a kick in the air. With his foot sticking out, he connected with Mayo’s face, and the fly-half saw red.
With a two-man advantage, the Eagles had all the momentum and Dominic Besag scored to give them the lead at half-time.
Throughout the second half, Portugal conceded endless penalties. It not only resulted in a loss of territory, but any time Portugal got points, the USA were able to come back and maintain their lead through the boot of Christopher Hilsenbeck.
Cardoso Pinto then grabbed a fourth to put Os Lobos back in front. For a team that seemed intent on gifting their opposition points, they were fortunate to have such a quality finisher on their side.
The sense of relief didn’t last long as Pedro Vicente was red-carded for a stamp on Benjamin Bonasso. It summed up Portugal’s evening, and with a few minutes to go, the USA received a penalty over 30 metres out.
Showing incredible composure, Hilsenbeck slotted it over and the Eagles held on for a momentous victory against the in-form team coming into the Nations Cup.