Selknam starts on the wrong foot in Super Rugby Americas and falls to Yacare XV

Selknam failed on debut at Super Rugby Americas 2024. The national rugby franchise succumbed 34-20, with a second half to forget, in Paraguay against the Yacare XV. The Chileans were free from the first meeting. They are now scheduled to face the Cobras Brasil XV next Saturday (March 2) at the Du Cambuzano Stadium, Jacareí.

The national team, led this year by Jake Mangin, traveled to the Héroes de Curupayty stadium in Asunción to face the Paraguayan selection in the second date of Super Rugby Americas. On opening day, the Chilean team was free. So now they made their debut hoping to start with a victory as a visitor.

In the first half, they were close. In fact, Selknam’s beginnings were very promising. In the 4th minute, an Alfonso Escobar try and Matías Garafulic’s subsequent conversion gave the national team the lead. After much arguing and the national team sometimes finding themselves with one less player on the field, they went into halftime with a 20-14 lead.

However, all the good things fell apart in the plugin. Yacare XV woke up, overcame his defeat against Pampas XV and left the Fuegians empty. The return indicates the final score was 34-20. In other words, Selknam was unable to convert the final fraction at any time. The national scores came from the tries of Alfonso Escobar and Domingo Saavedra, as well as the conversations of Matías Garafulic and two penalties executed by him.