The greatest Test try of the year has been scored from the most unlikely place
A waterlogged pitch in Santiago in a Rugby World Cup first leg qualifying match between Chile and the United States did not seem like the type of place that was going to provide the greatest try of the year, but lo and behold the rugby world has been treated to an epic.
The try was scored by Chile fly-half Rodrigo Fernández and it was made all the more incredible by the fact that the state of the pitch meant running was basically like wading through hummus. Nevertheless, he was able to run in a 70 metre epic, beating seven players in the process with pace, footwork and a bit of brute strength to power over the line. The try helped his side move to within one point of the USA with half an hour to play.
The try was actually so good, that it caused a power cut in the stadium a few minutes later. There is no exact scientific reason why a try would cause a power cut, but it is the only rational reason why.
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The final score of the match was 22-21 to the USA, however a late Chilean try means that they are only trailing by one point heading into the second leg encounter next week in Colorado, where the winner will make the 2023 World Cup.
Take a look at the try:
A try heard across an entire nation.
Chile’s Rodrigo Fernandez’s stunning try en route to qualifying for next year’s @RugbyWorldCup is named @IntRugbyPlayers Men’s Try of the Year 🇨🇱#WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/z6EjVoaGsf
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 20, 2022
USA
1. David Ainu’u; 2. Joe Taufete’e; 3. Paul Mullen; 4. Nick Civetta; 5. Greg Peterson; 6. Ben Bonasso; 7. Hanco Germishuys; 8. Cam Dolan; 9. Ruben de Haas; 10. AJ MacGinty (C); 11. Martin Iosefo; 12. Bryce Campbell; 13. Tavite Lopeti; 14. Christian Dyer; 15. Marcel Brache
Reserves: 16. Kapeli Pifeleti (@68); 17. Chance Wenglewski (@68); 18. Angus MacLellan (@68); 19. Siaosi Mahoni (@68); 20. Jason Damm (@61); 21. Tevita Tameilau (@72); 22. Nate Augspurger (@72); 23. Luke Carty (@68);
Chile
1. Javier Carrasco; 2. Augusto Bohme; 3. Matías Dittus; 4. Santiago Pedrero; 5. Javier Eissmann; 6. Martín Sigren (C) 7. Clemente Saavedra; 8. Raimundo Martínez; 9. Lukas Carvallo; 10. Rodrigo Fernández; 11. Franco Velarde; 12. José Larenas; 13. Matías Garafulic; 14. Nicolás Garafulic; 15. Santiago Videla
Reserves: 16. Diego Escobar; 17. Salvador Lues; 18. Vittorio Lastra; 19. Augusto Sarmiento; 20. Thomas Orchard; 21. Ignacio Silva; 22. Lucas Strabucchi; 23. Marcelo Torrealba;
