Argentina XV have reclaimed the Americas Rugby Championship title they last won in its inaugural year in 2016, ending the USA's two-year tenure as champions of a tournament that continues to grow each year.

They ran out 39-23 winners over Canada on a cold Friday evening in Langford, the bonus point win ensuring that even were USA to finish their campaign with two similar wins the best they could do is match the current 20-point haul of Argentina XV and, in the event the South Americans lose their final match to Chile, their 45-14 loss in round two would be their undoing on the head-to-head rule.

Meanwhile, Uruguay leapfrogged the US Eagles into second after winning in the States for the first time. Los Teros triumphed 32-25 in Seattle, while Brazil edged Chile 15-10 in the other game.

The penultimate round of the Americas Rugby Championship 2019 continues on Saturday when Brazil host Chile in Sao Paulo and USA welcome Uruguay to Seattle.

CANADA 23-39 ARGENTINA

Despite the 16-point margin, Argentina XV needed every ounce of their stamina and attitude to come out on top at Westhills Stadium as Canada never gave in and pushed them to their limits.

The first half was harder than the 22-6 scoreline might have suggested, even with three tries scored bringing the goal of a try-scoring bonus point within their grasp.

Argentina XV certainly could not have asked for a better start as with just 21 seconds on the clock, centre Tomás Cubilla scoring after scrum-half Jamie Mackenzie’s kick was charged down.

Ciaran Hearn (two) and Domingo Miotti then exchanged penalties as defences proved stronger than both teams' disjointed attacks.

On the half hour mark, from an attacking scrum, two short passes and an inside pass put promising winger Matías Osadczuk away for Argentina XV’s second try.

On the stroke of half-time the visitors had their third try after a passage of ball control and retention involving most of the team, Cubilla grabbing his second try after an offload from his fellow centre Lucas Mensa.

Canada showed their commitment at the start of the second half and, having been stopped a couple of times short of the try-line, second-row Kyle Baillie was pushed over for their first try.

Desperate for the bonus-point try, Argentina XV failed to make the most of three attacking lineouts and in fact a ball lost centimetres from the line was turned into a magnificent 90-metre counterattack finished off by winger Andrew Coe. Gordon McRorie’s second conversion left the score uncomfortably close for the visitors, who now led by just two points. 

Miotti increased that advantage with a penalty with 17 minutes to go after the Argentina XV players realised they needed to focus on the getting the win, rather than getting the bonus point, but once more McRorie kept Canada in touch with a penalty of his own.

The fourth try did ultimately come, after scrum-half Felipe Ezcurra darted through the smallest of gaps close to the post to dot down and give replacement Martín Roger an easy conversion.

A forward pass denied Canada their third try, which would have meant a nervous final 10 minutes. The home side never stopped trying, but while Nakai Penny was in the sin-bin the Argentina XV wrapped up the win – and the title – with a penalty try from an advancing scrum.

“We worked very hard for this. Since we started together we spoke about strengthening the team and being serious; I think we did a good job,” said Ezcurra. “At times during the ARC we played great attacking rugby and at times our defence stood out. We knew how to win each game. Against Chile, we will continue working as a team and trying to be the best we can, individually and as a team.”

His captain Lautaro Bavaro added: “To win the Americas Rugby Championship again is extremely enjoyable; it is what we worked for. Our attitude was the key aspect. We spoke about it when we started working on January 7, we said it would be our flag. We have a game left and we must not lose our focus.”

USA 25-32 URUGUAY

USA hooker Joe Taufete'e scored a hat-trick, all from lineout drives, to break Keith Wood's world record for most tries by a front-row player, but still ended up on the losing side on a cold night in Seattle.

Despite Taufete'e's landmark performance, Uruguay showed greater consistency and control in a game where the lead changed hands five times to deservedly claim their first win on US soil.

Uruguay were first on the scoreboard when, after a series of pick-n-goes, prop Matteo Sanguinetti crashed over in the fourth minute to mark his 50th cap in style. Then, in the ninth minute, Taufete'e scored his 16th international try to overtake Wood's long-held record.

Soon after, Taufete'e scored his second before the backs got in on the act, wing Federico Favaro dotting down to atone for his two earlier penalty misses. Favaro wasn't able to convert his own try, however, the kick striking the upright.

A Will Hooley penalty – his only success of the night from four attempts at goal – nudged the Eagles in front again, but their slender advantage did not last long, Juan Manuel Cat bursting through for a fine solo score. Andrés Vilaseca took over the kicking duties and duly slotted the conversion for a 19-13 half-time lead.

Favaro scored his second try seconds after the restart but, yet again, the USA came back, Taufete'e's third try coming via the Eagles' favoured weapon.

After a scoreless 20-minute spell, Nicolás Freitas swung the game back Los Teros' way with their bonus-point try. That was then matched by US captain Blaine Scully, who was playing in his first game back from injury, while Uruguay found themselves down to 14 men following a yellow card to opposing skipper Juan Gaminara. 

The US pressed for the winning score but a lack of concentration allowed Uruguay one final opportunity to score from the kicking tee on the stroke of full-time, which Villaseca gratefully accepted.

BRAZIL 15-10 CHILE

In the first of Saturday's games, Brazil struggled to see off a stubborn Chile side that came close to winning at the Americas Rugby Championship for the first time since February 2016.

Once again, a strong scrum and the well-educated left boot of Josh Reeves were the keys to a game that had only one try, scored by visiting lock, Francisco Garrido.

Brazil controlled a first half littered with penalties, three of which were kicked by Reeves, in the fifth, 11th and 35th minutes. Chile’s only points before the break came in the 15th minute when Francisco González slotted a penalty through the posts.

The second half had a similar pattern to it with errors aplenty from both sides but Chile remained in the hunt until the very end.

Two minutes after the break, after a number of mauls and good work from replacement hooker Augusto Bohme, Garrido found his way over the line, Gonzalez converting to put Los Cóndores in front by 10-9.

Brazil had to wait for 15 minutes to regain the lead when Reeves kicked his fourth penalty and the hero of Os Tupis' 18-10 win over Canada in round two then added another following more ill-discipline from the visitors.