we loss
this defeat going to hurt for a while.
Brazil advance in Rugby World Cup qualifying(RUGBYWORLDCUP.COM) Sunday 19 October 2008
Brazil and their fans celebrate a try scored by Diego LópezBrazil recorded a much celebrated 24-12 home win against Trinidad & Tobago on Saturday to tie up the Rugby World Cup qualifying play-off against the NAWIRA champions.
In a tense and error-strewn game, the "verde-amarelhos" (green and yellows) scored four tries against two to the visitors and finished their test season unbeaten, having previously won the CONSUR B Championship.
The visiting side had lost at home 31-8 and needed to win by a big score if they were to have any hope of advancing their quest for a place in New Zealand in 2011. Although they came to Sao José dos Campos to play positive rugby and the camp held high hopes - despite half them arriving late due to problems with flights - the Brazilians were ready for them.
After both sides missed long-range penalty kicks, the first try came in the 15th minute after a strong blindside attack - and using the experimental laws - from a scrum. Brazil number eight Junior Orioli passed to scrum half Matheus R. Duque, who put winger Daniel Gregg in for the try. From the corner flag, full back Erick Monfrinatti converted.
The Calypso Warriors soon answered back - after a few spilled passes, they managed to put Andre Cabrera in space and he ran around at least three defenders for his unconverted try.
Trinidad would have another opportunity to put points on the board but an easy penalty was missed by scrum half Jonathan O'Connor. The Brazilians had better field position and also missed six points with the boot - two drop-goals went astray.
The second half started and soon Brazilian flanker Diego López was sinbinned by referee Santiago Slinger for a late charge on veteran fly half Brendan O'Farrell. At 38 and seemingly struggling with his fitness, O'Farrell was instrumental in the next try. First he kicked majestically to touch and from the ensuing lineout he handled twice before creating a beautiful gap for centre Dexter Snaggs to score untouched in the 44th minute. Those would be the last five points for Trinidad & Tobago as everything then turned green and yellow.
Brazil exert control
Increasingly, Brazil managed to control the forward exchanges and ruled the scrum. Their line out was a shambles but when it mattered most it worked - Antonio Gorios won a five-yard line out and from successive mauls flanker López redeemed himself with the try in the 21st minute.
With the scores tied at 12-12, it was Brazil that showed more resolve and scored two more tries, the first in the 69th minute when full back Erick Monfrinatti scored in the corner and then in the last move of the game, Monfrinatti counter-attacking to allow winger Rafael Dawailibi to cross. With the last kick of the match Monfrinatti converted, to the delight of the 3,000 spectators.
"We are delighted with the win," said captain Ramiro Mina, a veteran of four RWC qualifying campaigns. "We acknowledge that we didn't play superb rugby but it was very important to win. Now we know that we have a lot of work to do before the next stage."
More work to be done
His words were echoed by French-born coach Pierre Paparemborde. "This is not the end of a process, it is the start of the next stage; one that needs a lot of work from the players and the Brazilian Rugby Union to ensure we can have hopes of advancing further."
With this series win Brazil will play next year against Uruguay and Chile in a tournament that is said to be scheduled to be played in Uruguay. Trinidad & Tobago will not play further RWC 2011 qualifying matches.
Scorers
Brazil: Tries by Daniel Gregg, Diego López, Erick Monfrinatti and Rafael Dawailibi; two goals by Erick Monfrinatti
Trinidad & Tobago: Tries by Andre Cabera and Dexter Snaggs; one goal by Brendan O'Connor
Squads
Brazil
20 Christiano Costa (19 Han Korolkovas)
2 Daniel Danielewicz
16 Ramiro Mina (captain)
1 Regis Comoretto (4 Rafael Strenger)
5 Antonio Gorios
6 Jean-Marc Volland
7 Diego López (18 Alexandre Spano)
8 Junior Orioli (23 Henrique Dantas)
9 Matheus R. Duque
10 Lucas R. Duque
11 Daniel Gregg
12 Joao Luis da Ros
13 Giuliano Passini (22 Julian Menutti)
14 Rafael Dawailibi
15 Erick Monfrinatti
Trinidad & Tobago
1 Samuel Roberts
2 Feliciano Guerra
3 Damian Martínez (22 Kirk Quashie)
4 Nigel Arismendez
5 Jason Clark (21 Peter Bacchus)
6 Kurt Quasie (19 Selwyn St. Bernard)
7 Graeme Alkins
8 Adam Fredericks (captain)
9 Jonathan O'Connor
10 Brendan O'Farrell
11 Kidane Silverthorne
12 Don Rojas (16 Kirk Aanensen)
13 Dexter Snaggs
14 Andre Cabera
15 Nelson Figaro
Referee: Santiago Slinger (Uruguay)
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