Brazil gain upper hand over T&T
By Scott Harland
From Port of Spain
Brazil defeated Trinidad & Tobago 31-8 in the first leg of their Rugby World Cup 2011 qualifying play-off, in Port of Spain.
In front of 2000 spectators, Brazil's long kicking game allowed them to apply pressure deep inside Trinidad & Tobago territory. From there, pressure translated into turnovers near the Trinidad & Tobago line, which resulted in two first-half tries for Brazil.
Full back Erick Cogliandro kicked a penalty after two minutes before wing Daniel Gregg raced over shortly after for the game’s opening try.
Joao-Luis Da Ros added another try for the visitors after 20 minutes and fly half Lucas Duque landed one of many drop goal attempts to extend the lead to 16-0.
While Trinidad & Tobago’s managed frequent line breaks in the first half the Brazilians managed to reorganize each time before the home side could turn their possession into points.
Under clouds and occasional drizzle Jonathan O’Connor gave the home fans something to cheer five minutes before the break with a penalty to leave the half time score 3-16 in favour of Brazil.
Quick second half scores
At the start of the second half Trinidad & Tobago appeared to have pulled their collective socks up and within a minute of the kick-off had asserted themselves by working the ball up both sidelines for a classy try in corner.
The home team supporters bellowed their support and their players responded with confidence by launching a long attack from the next kick-off that saw Trinidad & Tobago contesting possession at a ruck inside the Brazilian 22m. Suddenly, a Brazil player rolled off the side of the ruck with the ball and scurried most of the way down the sideline before being tackled, but a quick ruck and fast hands created a two-on-one on the other sideline that saw Duque, Brazil's man of the match, dot down in the corner.
Brazil's Cogliandro kicked a further penalty as Trinidad & Tobago continued to test the Brazilian defence with runs and kicks, but the South Americans held and the urgency to score pushed the hosts to make mistakes. Brazil capitalized on these opportunities and forced more turnovers near the Trinidad & Tobago line, eventually adding another try through Reges Comoreto with eight minutes remaining.
Cogliandro converted to leave the final score 31-8 and give Brazil a clear advantage ahead of the return leg in São Jose dos Campos on 18 October.
The side that emerges the aggregate winner over the two-legged cross-continental playoff will progress to the next stage of the Americas qualifying process and join Chile and Uruguay in the CONSUR A Championship next year.
The winner of that tournament then faces the loser of Canada v USA to determine who qualifies directly for RWC 2011 in New Zealand as Americas 2 and who enters the Final Place Playoff.
Trinidad & Tobago: 1 Damian Martinez, 2 Felician Guerra, 3 Samuel Roberts, 4 Peter Bacchus, 5 Jason Clark, 6 Selwyn St. Bernard, 7 Graeme Alkins, 8 Adam Frederick, 9 Jonathan O’Connor,10 James Walklin,11 Kidane Silverthorne,12 Kirk Aanensen, 13 Nigel Arismandez,14 Andre Cabera,15 Kelson Figaro
Replacements: 16 Don Rojas, 17 Wayne Kelly,18 Dexter Snaggs,19 Kurt Quashie, 20 Adam Seedansingh, 21 Andrew Crooks, 22 Kirk Quashie
Brazil: 1 Reges Comoreto, 2 Daniel Danielewicz, 3 Ramiro Mina, 4 Andre Fujita, 5 Christiano Costa, 6 Jean Marc Volland, 7 Diego Lopez, 8 Joao Carlos Orioli, 9 Matheus Duque, 10 Lucas Duque, 11 Daniel Gregg,12 Joao-Luis Da Ros,13 Giuliano Passini,14 Rafael Dawailibi,15 Erick Cogliandro
Replacements:16 Leonardo Sarro, 17 Julian Manutti, 18 Alexandre Spano, 19 Henrique Pinto, 20 Rafael Strenger, 21 Fernando Martins, 22 Mauricio Coelho
Scorers
Trindad and Tobago: Try: Clark. Pen: O’Connor
Brazil: Tries: Gregg, Luis Da Ros, Duque, Comoreto. Con: Cogliandro. Pen: Cogliandro. Drop goal: Duque
Referee: David Smortchevsky
Assistant referees: Sam Langridge, Bryan Arciero
