Eagles put down big marker
AMERICAS CHAMPIONSHIP: AJ MacGinty’s hat-trick led 11 tries for the United States and the defending champion Eagles routed host Chile 71-8 on Saturday to start their 2019 campaign.
A World Cup-bound US side overwhelmed Los Condores in launching a bid for their third consecutive crown in the North and South America version of Europe’s Six Nations tournament.
A 14-man Uruguayan side edged Canada 20-17 on a last-play try at Montevideo and Argentina’s second-tier side ripped visiting Brazil 54-3 in later opening-day matches.
US hooker Joe Taufete’e 15th career try in the early moments matched retired Irish legend Keith Wood’s world record for most career test tries by a front row forward.
FT: @USARugby are off to a strong start after an impressive victory over @chilerugby1 at #ARC2019 full-time score 🇺🇸 71 – 8 🇨🇱 pic.twitter.com/3vBXZbMtbm
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) February 2, 2019
Wood set the mark in a nine-year career from 1994-2003 while Taufete’e, who plays for English Premiership side Worcester Warriors, earned his first US cap in 2015.
Irish-born MacGinty, a flyhalf for England’s Sale Sharks who missed November matches after shoulder surgery, opened his account in the sixth minute for a 12-0 US lead.
After a Chilean penalty kick, the Americans added tries from New Zealand-born former NFLer Paul Lasike, Nick Civetta and South African-born US standouts Shaun Davies and Hanco Germishuys for a 38-3 Eagles edge at half-time.
MacGinty sandwiched his last two tries in the 46th and 64th minute around the lone Chilean try and kicked his own conversions for a 52-8 lead.
Irish-born US debutante Tadhg Leader, South African-born Ruben De Haas of Pro 14 side Cheetahs and Cardiff Blues No.8 Cam Dolan added tries to create the final US victory margin.
Since edging Brazil in the 2016 Americas tournament opener, the Condores have lost 15 matches in a row.
Uruguay wing Federico Favaro scored a 12th-minute try but the Teros fell to 14 men in the 16th minute when scrumhalf Santiago Arata was sent off for a dangerous tackle of Canada’s Andrew Coe.
FT: @RugbyUruguay defeat @CanadaRugby in dramatic fashion with a final minute try at #ARC2019 Final score 20 – 17 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/Ya803qlbLC
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) February 3, 2019
Juan Manuel Cat’s penalty kick in the 23rd minute stretched Uruguay’s edge but a 37th-minute try by London Irish center Ciaran Hearn pulled Canada with 8-5 at half-time.
Canada’s Theo Sauder, who missed two penalties and two conversions, scored a try in the opening minute of the second half and Jamie Mackenzie added another with just under 20 minutes remaining.
But Uruguay forwards powered across the line in the 69th minute, setting the stage for the Teros’ final-play winner.
Argentina’s Lucas Mensa scored tries in the 34th and 56th minutes to lead a rout of Brazil. The hosts took a 26-3 half-time edge and never looked back in a blowout triumph.
Leicester Tigers scrum half Felipe Ezcurra, Jeronimo Ureta and Gaspar Baldunciel also had first-half tries for Argentina, which surrendered only a 12th-minute penalty kick from Joshua Reeves.
The hosts’ other second-half tries came from Julian Dominguez and debutantes Javier Corvalan and Agustin Segura.
Agence France-Presse
FT: Hosts @unionargentina XV prove too strong for @brasilrugby after a 54 – 3 win on Day 1 of #ARC2019 pic.twitter.com/YE1e3VxIhP
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) February 2, 2019
