Brazil secured their place in the South American ‘A’ Championship with a comprehensive 44-0 victory over Colombia in this weekend’s promotion/relegation play-off in São Paulo.
Colombia, the leading lights in the South American B Championship for the last couple of years, arrived in São Paulo full of confidence for a game against a Brazilian side that had recently lost back-to-back tests against Germany and finished bottom in the A Championship.
Yet those two fixtures against the higher-ranked Germans clearly served as good preparation for the Tupis ahead of their biggest game of the season.
Colombia put in a determined defensive effort in the first half to restrict Brazil to one try, scored by number 8 Nick Smith, and two penalties which came from scrum infringements.
But they couldn't maintain that level of intensity in the second half and Brazil used the front-foot ball provided by their dominant pack to run in five tries to the delight of an appreciative 2,000-strong crowd.
Beukes Cremer’s try was just reward for his impressive display alongside the equally influential veteran Lucas ‘Tanque’ Duque at half back, as Brazil went more than two scores ahead
Winger Stefano Giantorno was next to cross the line, before centre Felipe Sancery helped himself to a brace and replacement Guilherme Coghetto added a sixth.
Brazil’s ninth straight win over Colombia will see them leapfrog their South American rivals when the World Rugby Rankings are published at 12 noon on Monday.
The Tupis are set for a three place rise to 42nd, after a gain of 1.08 points, with Colombia heading in the other direction to 47th. Cook Islands and Croatia are also set to benefit from Brazil’s victory with an improved ranking.
Photo: Joao Neto/FotoJump
