Los Pampas and Los Dogos played out a classic in Buenos Aires on Saturday evening. The match went down to the wire with Los Dogos going 2-0 thus far in Super Rugby Americas (SRA) 2026. Los Cordobeses were 36-34 winning in a thriller.
There was action throughout the contest. It did not take long to begin either as Los Dogos scored the opening try in just the second minute of play. Second-rower Valentín Gonzálvez crashed over in the corner following a maul.
Los Pampas came to life in response. Bautista Farisé, formerly of Peñarol, opened the Buenos Aires team’s account with a penalty on 14 minutes. Then, five minutes later Farisé was adding more points after second-rower Rodrigo Fernández Criado broke clear to score.
The 10-5 lead was eroded in the second quarter. Los Dogos held firm on defense and scored twice. Flanker Aitor Bildosola and hooker Juan Gressing Revol each scored with Julián Hernández converting. It made it a 19-10 score-line in favor of the visitors at half-time.
Los Dogos gained an advantage early on int the second-half as Los Pampas‘ tight head Ramiro Berardi Calvo was yellow carded. Julián Hernández took advantage by scoring a solo try and converting from a difficulty angle. With it, Los Cordobeses led 26-10.
While still playing with a man down, Los Pampas clawed back with N8 Juan Pablo Bernasconi scoring and Barisé converting. Then came a potential turning point as former Los Pumas 7’s player, Agustín Fraga intercepted a Hernández pass to score. Farisé’s conversion made it a 26-24 scoreline after 54 minutes.
Another twist in the contest followed with center Facundo Pueyrredón scoring on 60 minutes. A Farisé penalty came in response but Hernández then cancelled it out with one of his own 10 minutes from full-time.
Yet again, Los Dogos were not home and safe; rather, Los Pampas fought back with another try. Sharp play from Tobías Wade saw the former Los Pumas 7’s player breaking clear and combining with Pumas winger Santiago Pernas. Farisé converted for a two-point gap with five minutes remaining.
Los Dogos looked to score two minutes from full-time but Los Pampas won a turn-over penalty. From there they kicked deep and set-up an attacking lineout. The defense held firm and won a turn-over penalty of their own to seal victory with time up.
The agonizing defeat sees Los Pampas Frustrated while also quickly turning attention to competition leaders, Los Capibaras. The historic first-ever Buenos Aires vs Litoral professional rugby match will be a round three battle with Los Pampas at home. Los Dogos travel to Tucumán for another derby as they take-on Los Tarucas.
| SCORING |
PAMPAS (34)
TRY – R Fernández Criado (18′); JP Bernasconi (50′) A Fraga (53′); S Pernas (74′)
CON – B Farisé 4 (19′, 51′, 54′, 75′)
PEN – B Farisé 2 (14′, 66′)
YC – R Berardi Calvo (43′)
DOGOS (36)
TRY – V Gonzálvez (2′); A Bildosola (24′); J Greissing Revol (37′); J Hernández (44′); F Pueyrredón (60′)
CON – J Hernández 4 (25′, 38′, 45′, 61′)
PEN – J Hernández (70′)
 LINE-UPS |
PAMPAS
1 Matías Medrano, 2 Ignacio Bottazzini, 3 Ramiro Berardi Calvo, 4 Marcelo Toledo, 5 Rodrigo Fernández Criado, 6 Juan C Pérez Rachel (capt.), 7 Augusto Cabano Wall, 8 Juan Pablo Bernasconi, 9 Lucas Marguery, 10 Bautista Farisé, 11 Jerónimo Ulloa, 12 Felipe Ledesma, 13 Agustín Fraga, 14 Santiago Pernas, 15 Tobías Wade
Replacements: 16 Tadeo Ledesma Arocena, 17 Valentín Vicente Vidal, 18 Marcos Camerlinckx, 19 Juan Penoucos, 20 Faustino Santarelli, 21 Alejo Lavayén, 22 Estanislao Renthel, 23 Nahuel Clausen
DOGOS
1 Francisco Aguirre, 2 Juan Greissing Revol, 3 Octavio Filippa, 4 Valentín Gonzálvez, 5 Enzo Ocampo, 6 Aitor Bildosola, 7 Lautaro Simes, 8 Genaro Fissore, 9 Nicolás Viola, 10 Julián Hernández, 11 Agustín de Vertiz, 12 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo (capt.), 13 Facundo Pueyrredón, 14 Mateo Soler, 15 Mateo Sánchez
Replacements: 16 Alejandro Pronce, 17 Ramiro Iglesias, 18 Galo Fernández, 19 Federico Rolotti, 20 Augusto Cugnini, 21 Genaro Podesta, 22 Facundo Rodríguez, 23 Agustín Segura
| MATCH HIGHLIGHTS |
| MATCH OFFICIALS |
VS
Referee: Tomás Bertazza (Argentina)
Assistant Referees: Federico Longobardi (Argentina); Federico Solari (Argentina)