The dynamics proposed by Pampas. The craft and solidity of Dogos XV. The American Rugby Super League was polarized between two teams seeking to win the regional tournament for the first time. After nine dates, the Argentine franchises have stretched the difference at the top, both accumulate 35 points in the table and are 15 points ahead of Yacaré XV, the main pursuer.
On Sunday, both showed their intentions and their two faces. Pampas sought to add rhythm to the game, he achieved it at times, and beat American Raptors 47-14, in Denver. Dogos XV controlled the match, fought in the fixed formations and defeated Cobras Brasil XV 31-9. “They made the scrum a bit complicated for us, we knew it was going to be their strong point. But we took 100 percent of the lines, which our backs like, having quality balls to attack,” highlighted Tomás Bartolini, the best of the night at Villa Warcalde.
Pampas, the team based in Buenos Aires, did not stand out, but passed the duel against the American Raptors without any problems. Juan Manuel Leguizamón rotated in some positions such as scrum-half, with the first presentation as starter of Simón Benítez Cruz. “The players of both teams ran a lot with the ball, with some mistakes. We did some good things, but we need to be more consistent and that is the big goal for the next game,” Leguizamón highlighted about his team, which has not been showing reliable fixed formations. When the Argentines Diego Fortuny and Facundo Pomponio were on the field with the American Raptors shirt, the scrum once again showed weaknesses. “We need to improve the line and the scrum. Sometimes we are very high and then we go down. We stole two balls on the line in the first five minutes and then we lost ours… These are details that we seek to improve,” added the head coach.
Juan Pablo Castro, the best player of the match, opened the scoring with a try. Also billed were Jerónimo Ulloa, another of the high points, Justo Piccardo, Ignacio Bottazzini, Joaquín De la Vega Mendía, Santiago Montagner and Ignacio Inchauspe. “We are very happy with the work week. It’s positive and we are happy to take home the victory. We had some moments in which we did not do things well, but when we managed to control ourselves we dominated them,” highlighted Manuel Bernstein, the captain, who started in all eight games in 2024.
While Pampas continues in its search to be a dynamic and vertical team, with a lot of rhythm in the game, Dogos XV clings to its bases: a heavy pack, a strong scrum and an orderly defense. In 2024 they lost fluidity in the game and their backs have a hard time getting uneven. Cobras Brazil XV competed in the scrum and exposed some shortcomings in the overall game. Felipe Mallía, Borís Wenger, Mateo Soler, Agustín De Vertiz and Facundo García Hamilton scored the tries at 31-9. With the same base as 2023, the Córdoba team is still undefeated this year.
The dominant moment of the Argentine teams is largely explained by the drop in the competitive level of Peñarol and Selknam, who lost their main figures after the World Cup in France. Both Uruguay and Chile have a small player base and this year they are navigating irregularity. Peñarol, current two-time champion, decided to feed on youth players who are having a hard time adapting. Selknam, on the other hand, turned to some foreigners to raise the bar. On Saturday, Argentine Iñaki Delguy was one of the figures in the victory over Yacaré XV.
In this context, with both teams practically classified for the semifinals, Pampas and Dogos will seek to strengthen the game for the definitions. In two weeks they will face each other in Córdoba, in a duel with rispidities and overtones of classic. “We have a week off and we have to work hard to be where we want to be. It was a game with several positive things to highlight, but we have to improve individually and collectively. That’s where the focus is,” said Leguizamón. Pampas will arrive with a free week to face a rival that it has not yet been able to overcome: it lost its four official matches against Dogos XV, who will first have a trip to Paraguay.