CANADA FALLS TO ARGENTINA XV IN PENULTIMATE AMERICAS RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

 
Canada got two tries from scrum-half Andrew Ferguson while winger Dan Moor went over for his third try of the ARC.

“Their sets, pace and ability to keep the ball alive was the difference,” interim head coach Francois Ratier said. “We wanted to keep the ball in hand as they had a strong counter attack but at the beginning of the second half we didn’t stick with the plan. 

“It was then hard for us to stay in the game after that.”
 
Trailing 12-0 after two early tries through captain Santiago Iglesias and Juan Pablo Estellés, with Pedro Mercerat converting the latter, Canada got into the game as Moor received the ball out wide after some quick ball movement, beat a defender and dived over. Ferguson converted to cut the lead to 12-7 after just 13 minutes.
 
Mercerat extended Argentina XV’s lead to 15-7 with a penalty in the 20^th minute and the lead could have been more had it not been for Pat Parfrey’s outstanding last-ditch cover tackle to prevent a try minutes later. However, Argentina XV’s attack wouldn’t be contained in the 28^th minute as flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamón crashed over after Canada’s Kyle Baillie had been penalized for a high tackle moments earlier.
 
Trailing by 13, Canada came roaring back as Ferguson grabbed his first try of the day after Baillie had created a 2-on-1 before offloading to the Mississauga, Ont., native. Canada went right back on the offensive off of the kickoff and after a number of phases, including Duncan Maguire exploiting a hole to get inside the 5 meter line, Ferguson dove over from the back of the ruck.
 
His conversion on both tries gave Canada a 21-20 lead but they’d fall behind heading into half time as Cuaranta found space on the wing to push Argentina XV ahead 27-21 at the break. Ferguson was a late replacement for Canada as he was called into the starting XV only hours before kickoff in place of Gordon McRorie. Ferguson had tallied 15 points in Canada’s last two ARC games since making his debut against the USA in Week 2.

“Andrew was ready for the challenge,” Ratier said. “He is learning every game and is always improving as today showed.”
 
Mercerat opened the second half with a penalty inside five minutes and then Argentina XV’s pack went to work as they dominated the Canadian forwards before being rewarded with a penalty try after repeat infringements in the scrum that cost captain Hubert Buydens 10 minutes as he was sent to the bin.
 
Argentina XV refused to let up and added three more tries through Lucas González Amorosino, Leguizamón and Estellés to round out an impressive performance.
 
Canada returns to action next Saturday as they tackle Chile in their final game of the ARC. Kickoff is 6pm ET/3pm PT with streaming details to be announced.

Canada’s Team to face Argentina XV (Name, club, hometown):

1. Hubert Buydens, captain – (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK
2. Ray Barkwill – Captain (Castaway Wanderers/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
3. Djustice Sears-Duru – (Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
4. Kyle Baillie – (St. Albert RFC/Atlantic Rock) Summerside, PEI
5. Cam Pierce – (Pau) Vernon, BC
6.  Lucas Rumball – (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues) Scarborough, ON
7. Alistair Clark – (Bay Street Pigs/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
8. Clay Panga – (Westshore Valhallians/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
9. Andrew Ferguson – (Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues) Mississauga, ON
10. Pat Parfrey – (Swilers RFC/Atlantic Rock) St. John’s, NL
11. Duncan Maguire – (St. Albert RFCC/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
12. Nick Blevins – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
13. Phil Mackenzie – (Sale Sharks/Ontario Blues), Oakville, ON
14. Dan Moor – (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON
15. Brock Staller – (UBC Thunderbirds/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
16. Eric Howard – (Brantford Harlequins/Ontario Blues) Ottawa, ON
17. Ryan Kotlewski – (Calgary Saints/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
18. Rob Brouwer – (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON
19. Alex Mascott – (UBC Thunderbirds/BC Bears) Langley, BC
20. Michael Hamson – (Halifax Tars/Atlantic Rock) Halifax, NS
21. Brett Johnson – (Truro Saints/Atlantic Rock) Truro, NS
22. Gradyn Bowd – (UVIC Vikes/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
23. Jacob Robinson – (St. Albert RFC/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
 
Canada’s Coaching Staff:
 
Francois Ratier — Head Coach
Chris Silverthorn — Assistant Coach
James Kent — Performance Analyst
Andy Evans — Strength and Conditioning Coach
Carla Brash— Athletic Therapist
Rich Gregory — Athletic Therapist
Dr. John Gillis — Team Doctor
Mark Winokur — Team Manager
 
Argentina’s Team to face Canada
 
1. Facundo Gigena
2. Santiago Iglesias (captain)          
3. Enrique Pieretto  
4. Pedro Ortega        
5. Ignacio Larrague  
6. Juan Manuel Leguizamón           
7. Lautaro Bavaro     
8. Santiago Portillo   
9. Marcos Bollini       
10. Juan Cruz González        
11. Franco Cuaranta
12. Tomás Granella  
13. Juan Cappiello    
14. Juan Pablo Estellés        
15. Pedro Mercerat  
16. Axel Zapata         
17. Roberto Tejerizo
18. Eduardo Bello    
19. Marcos Kremer  
20. José Deheza        
21. Lautaro Bazan    
22. Juan Novillo        
23. Lucas González Amorosino       

Scoring Summary:

Canada:

Tries: Andrew Ferguson (2), Dan Moor
Conversions: Andrew Ferguson (3)

Argentina XV:

Tries: Juan Pablo Estellés (2), Juan Manuel Leguizamón (2), Franco Cuaranta, Santiago Iglesias, Lucas González Amorosino, penalty try
Conversions: Pedro Mercerat (4)             
Penalties: Pedro Mercerat (2)