Uruguay defeated the USA 10-9 in Americas Zone qualifying action and in the process have put the American bid to qualify direct for Australia 2003 in jeopardy.
In a windswept match which saw the two forward packs battle to a standstill, Uruguay prevailed over Dave Hodges' XV by a converted penalty try and a penalty goal to three penalty goals. Some 3,000 watched the River Plate Stadium contest.
Coupled with Canada's 29-11 victory over Chile in Santiago, the Teros victory means the winner of next Saturday's Uruguay-Chile match in Montevideo will claim second place in the Americas qualifying pool and a trip to the 2003 World Cup in Australia. Barring a draw, the United States will finish third based on a tiebreak formula and go into a special "repechage" playoff series.
"The scoreline reflects how difficult it was for both teams to play rugby," USA coach Tom Billups said after the match.
"But I really want to hand it to our forwards. We were dramatically better [than the Chile match], and went toe to toe with Uruguay on their home ground," Billups said.
Uruguay scored first, benefiting from a penalty try called by referee Peter Marshall. Nineteen minutes into the game, at scrummage some eight meters away from the tryline, two set pieces collapsed. When the third scrum went down, the Australian promptly awarded Uruguay five points, an unusual decision so far out.
The USA struck back with penalty goals from Mike Hercus, at 24 minutes and in first-half injury time. But the Eagle flyhalf also missed three-point opportunities at 6 and 39 minutes. On the first occasion the ball hit the upright and rebounded within reach of pursuing Philippe Farner, who had a clear run to the line, before bouncing crazily away.
The two sides traded penalty goals in the second half, one by Diego Aguirre at 67 minutes and one by Hercus at 70 minutes. Again the Eagles narrowly missed a try, when halfback Kevin Dalzell went over the line but couldn't ground the ball. Following America's five-meter scrum, Uruguay jumped offside, giving Hercus his chance.
"We held Uruguay to ten points, including a dubious penalty try, a week after Canada shipped 25 in losing here. They got nothing out of their rolling maul, and we leave South America with our honor intact," Billups said.
"I told the boys that we were going to find a way to Australia, and it looks like we're going to get our chance," Billups said.
The Teams:
United States: 1 Dan Dorsey, 2 Kirk Khasigian, 3 Mike MacDonald, 4 Philippe Farner, 5 Alec Parker, 6 Dave Hodges (c), 7 Kort Schubert, 8 Dan Lyle, 9 Kevin Dalzell, 10 Mike Hercus, 11 David Fee, 12 Jason Keyter, 13 Juan Grobler, 14 Al Lakomskis, 15 Link Wilfley
Reserves: Chris Miller, Shaun Paga
Unused: Johnny Naqica, Conrad Hodgson, Kimball Kjar, John Tarpoff, Mose Timoteo
Referee: Marshall p.
Points Scorers:
United States
Pen K.: Hercus M. 3
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