Brazilian men seize semi-final opportunity

 

Defending champions Brazil did not concede a point in winning Pool A - Photo: F Deges

Brazil made a statement of intent in the women’s section, while a last minute change in the format opened up new opportunities for their men’s side in the first RWC Sevens 2009 regional qualifying tournament being played in Punta del Este, Uruguay.
 
The road to Dubai started in similar heat to the one to be encountered in thirteen months time in the United Arab Emirates. The Estadio Domingo Burgueño Miguel was the venue where the eight members of the Confederación Sudamericana de Rugby (CONSUR) gathered to decide a qualifier in each gender for next year’s World Cup Sevens.
 
With Argentina’s men already qualified for the fifth RWC Sevens, it was agreed prior to the start of the tournament that the format would vary slightly and semi-finals be played by the top four nations other than Argentina.

Argentina, who had qualified by virtue of reaching the RWC Sevens 2005 quarter-finals in Hong Kong, advanced directly to the CONSUR final, so as the Brazilians finished third in that Pool, they will play in the semi-final.

Brazil defence shuts out rivals
 
In the women’s event, Brazil won their three games, scoring 119 unanswered points. They opened the tournament as defending champions and easily dispatched Chile 38-0. They later had no problems dealing with Paraguay (62-0), although they had to work harder in their closing match against an improved Argentine side, whom they still beat 19-0. Playing modern Sevens rugby, Flávio Santos’ girls were one step ahead of the rest.
 
Argentina, whose women’s rugby is certainly not of the same standard as the men’s game, managed to finish second in Pool A thanks to points differential – their game against Chile was the only draw of the day. With the game all but lost, Chile managed to score a last minute try to draw level at 5-5. Argentina’s 32-0 win against Paraguay was better than Chile’s 19-0 victory, while Paraguay were unable to score a point in their three games.
 
One conversion was the difference that placed Uruguay top of Pool B, as they beat Colombia 12-10 in their first match. Two ensuing victories against Venezuela and Peru gave them the top spot and ensured they will avoid Brazil in the semi-finals. Venezuela finished second beating Colombia 24-10 in the crucial match.
 
In the men’s competition, as a core team in the IRB Sevens World Series and with the squad that will play in Wellington and San Diego next month, Argentina were too hot for their three opponents - Brazil were dispatched 45-0, Venezuela beaten 68-0 and Uruguay 17-0. It was a long day for Santiago Gómez Cora’s side as they played in the second match (at 14:25) and closed the day’s action at midnight.
 
Home team Uruguay finished as runners-up in Pool A with two wins, while Brazil beat Venezuela 37-0 to finish in third place yet advance to the top four. Uruguay have in Ignacio Conti and Matías Arocena two solid players to challenge for a RWC Sevens place. This is Uruguay’s sixth tournament in the last couple of months, as they fully prepared for this opportunity of going to Dubai.

Colombian fight back to reach last four
 
In Pool B, the Chileans showed their intentions early on and although Peru started strongly, once Cristobal Berti’s side started to play, they were too good for their opponents, winning 38-12 against the Peruvian Tumis, 57-0 against the Colombia Tucanes and 33-12 against Paraguay.
 
Paraguay had managed a 15-0 lead against Colombia, but when one of their players was sin-binned (the only yellow card of the day) it gave the Colombians sufficient impetus to beat them 17-15 and with that win the balance of the pool was altered totally. Colombia, having lost to Chile then again took a hard earned 19-17 win against Peru to book a deserved place in the semi-finals.
 
Peru finished third and Paraguay fourth. As the third team in Pool A will play in the semi-final, it was agreed that Peruvians and Argentines will play a friendly match.
 
The two semi-finals in the men’s competition are Uruguay v Colombia and Chile v Brazil, while the women’s will have Brazil taking on Venezuela and Argentina playing Uruguay. Two of these eight teams will qualify for RWC Sevens 2009.
 
Day One Results (Friday):

MEN

Argentina 45 - Brazil 0
Chile 38 - Peru 12
Uruguay 36 - Venezuela 5
Colombia 17 - Paraguay 15
Argentina 68 - Venezuela 0
Chile 57 -Colombia 0
Uruguay 21 - Brazil 12
Peru 12 - Paraguay 5
Brazil 37 - Venezuela 0
Peru 17 - Colombia 19
Chile 33 - Paraguay 12
Argentina 17 - Uruguay 0

Pool A standings
Argentina (to CONSUR Final)
Uruguay (semi-finalist)
Brazil (semi-finalist)
Venezuela
 
Pool B standings
Chile
Colombia
Peru
Paraguay
 
WOMEN

Brazil 38 - Chile 0
Uruguay 12 - Colombia 10
Argentina 32 - Paraguay 0
Venezuela 34 - Peru 0
Brazil 62 - Paraguay 0
Colombia 22 - Peru 0
Argentina 5 - Chile 5
Uruguay 17 - Venezuela 0
Chile 19 - Paraguay 0
Uruguay 22 - Peru 5
Brazil 19 - Argentina 0
Venezuela 24 - Colombia 10

Pool A standings
Brazil
Argentina
Chile
Paraguay
 
Pool B standings
Colombia
Venezuela
Uruguay
Peru
 
Day Two Matches (Saturday):
 
MEN

Semi-finals:
Uruguay - Colombia
Brazil - Chile
7th - 8th
Venezuela - Paraguay
Friendly
Argentina - Peru
3rd place playoff
Loser semi-final 1 v Loser semi-final 2
Final qualifying match
Winner semi-final 1 v Winner semi-final 2 (winner will play in RWC Sevens)
CONSUR Final - Argentina v winner final qualifying match
 
WOMEN

Semi-finals
Brazil - Venezuela
Argentina - Uruguay
Chile - Peru
Paraguay - Colombia
7th place playoff
5th place playoff
3rd place playoff
CONSUR Final - Winner semi-final 1 v Winner semi-final 2 (winner will play in RWC Sevens)