Colombia impressive in win over Brazil

Despite sevens being the main format of the game in South America, both teams put in an impressive performance. Brazil were on the score board first in the third minute when centre Rafaela “Rafa” Zenellato spotted a gap in the Colombian line and sprinted half of the pitch to score. Raquel Kochhann added the conversion.

Colombia – who appeared the better drilled of the two XVs – were soon back on the attack and pulled a try back shortly afterwards when after Colombia worked their way to the Brazilian, sucking in the defence, and leaving and overlap for Yina Quintero to score. The conversion was missed, so Brazil continued to lead by 7-5.

Play continued to be almost entirely at the Brazilian end, with Colombia having a significant advantage up front. A well worked catch and drive from a line out took Colombia back into the Brazilian end, before a penalty won from a scrum resulted in a try by Carolina Naranjo, converted by Camila Lopera. Colombia now lead 12-7.

Brazil made a brief visit to the Colombian end from the restart, but with no addition to the score. Instead the power of the Colombian scrum achieved an impressive turnover on the halfhour, putting them back on the offensive, and within minutes Sharon Acevedo was across the line for the home team’s third try. The score was now 17-7

Brazil had their best period of play in the final minutes of the first half, but impressive Colombian defence ensured that there was no addition to the score before halftime.

Soon after the restart a penalty for Colombia in front of the posts was easily converted by Camila Lopera, taking the score to 20-7.

A lengthy period of Brazilian possession followed, but impressive Colombian defence ensured that they could not get out of their own half. When Colombia did regain possession resulted in the try of the match, impressive handling putting Leidy García in for the fourth Colombian try. 25-7.

Colombian control of the game continued into the final quarter as the benches were emptied. A second Colombian penalty was converted by Camila Lopera, taking the score to 28-7.

The second half ended in the same way as the third. Colombia’s impressive defence holding out for the final minutes to win the game by 28-7.

Full match video

Colombia:1. Aura Cadavid (Antioquia) ; 2. Natalia Barajas (Antioquia) ; 3. Camila Cardona (Antioquia) ; 4. Alejandra Betancurt (Antioquia) ; 5. Maira Martínez (Antioquia) ; 6. Gloribeth Campos (Antioquia) ; 7. Angela Lozano (Bogotá) ; 8 Carolina Naranjo (Antioquia) ; 9. Nicole Acevedo (Antioquia) (C) ; 10. Ana María González (North) ; 11. Manuela Marroquin (Risaralda) ; 12. Catalina Arango (Antioquia) ; 13. Valentina Álvarez (Bogotá) ; 14. Solangie Delgado ( Antioquia) ; 15. Yina Quintero (Santander) ; 16. Camila Lopera (Antioquia) ; 17. Mizzy Arzuaga (Antioquia) ; 18. Isabel Romero (Antioquia) ; 19. Sharon Acevedo (Antioquia); 20. Leidy Soto (Antioquia) ; 21. Laura Diosa (Antioquia) ; 22. Yenny Ramírez (Antioquia) ; 23. Leidy García (Valle)

Brazil:15 Leila Silva, 14 Rúbia Domingos, 13 Mariana “Mari” Nicolau, 12 Rafaela “Rafa” Zenellato, 11 Isadora “Isa” Lopes, 10 Raquel Kochhann, 9 Isadora “Izzy” Cerullo, 8 Franciele “Fran” Martins, 7 Íris Coluna (c), 6 Milena “Mille” Mariano, 5 Sofia Arantes, 4 Marcelle Souza, 3 Camila Gonçalves, 2 Andressa Contreras, 1 Franciny “Bu” Amaral;Replacements: 16 Addalucia “Adda” Nascimento, 17 Suzana Rodrigues, 18 Ana Paula “Mima” Lacosqui, 19 Dayana Dakar, 20 Tabata “Colors” Coutinho, 21 Letícia Medeiros, 22 Marina “Tchoba” Fioravanti, 23 Thalita “Tchubata” Cost