Page 39

WINNERS: Argentina XVWHEN: 8-16 OctoberWHERE: Montevideo, UruguayFINAL STANDINGS: 1. Argentina XV 2. Fiji Warriors 3. Samoa A 4. Uruguay A 5. USA Select 6. Canada ALEADING POINTS SCORER: Jeronimo Etcheverry (Uruguay A), 41LEADING TRY SCORERS: Ben Lesage (Canada A) and Ope Peleseuma (Samoa A), four GOING BACK-TO-BACK: Americas Rugby Championship winners Argentina XV and World Rugby Pacific Challenge champions Fiji Warriors met in a winner-takes-all shootout to decide who would claim a second piece of silverware in 2016. In a finale befitting the breathless rugby the tournament had served up, Argentina XV claimed a dramatic 27-26 win thanks to Pedro Ortega’s last-gasp try and Juan Cruz Gonzalez’s all-important conversion.TRY-FEST: Spectators at the Estadio Charrúa enjoyed a feast of running rugby with an average of 71 points and over nine tries scored per match across the three rounds.CIMA INSPIRES COMEBACK: Among a host of unforgettable matches the ‘derby’ between USA Select and Canada A perhaps stood out above all others. Trailing 30-13 early in the second half, USA Select stunned their neighbours with a four-try blitz in the space of 13 minutes, scoring 34 unanswered points on their way to a 47-37 victory. Fly-half Ben Cima was at the heart of the revival, and finished the match with 22 points.THEY SAID: “The Americas Pacific Challenge is a great opportunity to offer a new tier of competitions to countries that either will be or aspire to be in Rugby World Cup 2019…Every one of the six teams took a definite step forward.” Rugby Americas Chairman Agustín Pichot.WINNERS: Fiji WarriorsWHEN: 8-21 MarchWHERE: Suva, FijiFINAL STANDINGS: 1. Fiji Warriors 2. Samoa A 3. Tonga A 4. Junior JapanLEADING POINTS AND TRY SCORERS: Oneone Fa’afou (Samoa A) and Takuhei Yasuda (Junior Japan), 24 points, four triesNEW LINE-UP: With Canada and Argentina XV involved in the inaugural Americas Rugby Championship taking place at the same time, there were only four teams taking part in the Pacific Challenge in 2016. YOUNG AND OLD: Only seven of the 32-man squad selected by Japan were over 20 years of age at the beginning of the tournament, whereas Tonga only had one teenager in their ranks, starting fly-half Patelesio Oneone, who turned 20 four days before its conclusion.SIX UP FOR FIJI: Fiji Warriors claimed their sixth Pacific Challenge title but their first for three years to bring some light relief to the Fijian public still struggling to come to terms with the devastating effects of Cyclone Winston. The Warriors were imperious throughout, scoring 170 points and 22 tries in wins over Samoa A (twice), Tonga A and Junior Japan.JOY FOR JUNIOR JAPAN: Despite fielding a young and inexperienced squad, Junior Japan put the winless campaigns of 2014 and 2015 behind them with a 26-8 victory over Tonga A in their opening match. It was their first win in 15 attempts at this level. Takuhei Yasuda’s hat-trick was in vain though as Tonga A overturned the result when the sides met again in the third-place play-off a fortnight later. THEY SAID: “I’d like to thank our fans for coming out in big numbers to support the team. This win today is for them.” Fiji Warriors captain Peni Ravai.WORLD RUGBY AMERICAS PACIFIC CHALLENGE 2016WORLD RUGBY PACIFIC CHALLENGE 2016Full results aFull results at: www.worldrugby.org t: www.worldrugby.org YEAR IN REVIEW 2016 WORLD RUGBY 39 TOURNAMENTS REVIEW | INSPIRE