Uruguay signalled their intentions for the South American Championship by overwhelming Paraguay 102-6 on the opening day at Cataratas Rugby Club in Iguazu, Argentina, running in 16 tries in the emphatic victory.

Los Teros scored their first try in the seventh minute through Arturo Avalo and never looked back, crossing the Paraguay line a further seven times in the first half to go in leading 52-6 at the break with their opponents only reply two penalties from Marcelo Renna.

Javier Ameglio, Avalo, Adrian Lewis, Ignacio Barcos, Ignacio Inchausti, Pablo Bueno and Gastón Mieres all touched down for Uruguay, one of four sides playing in the first phase of this South American Championship.

There was no led up after the break despite the victory being in doubt with Bueno taking his tally for the match to four with a second half hat-trick, and Diego Bascou, Diego Magno, Leandro Leivas and Alberto Roman (2) also scoring tries.

Uruguay’s next match is on Tuesday against Brazil, a side who will be desperate to bounce back from a 25-6 loss to Chile on the opening day, a result which sees them fall two places in the latest IRB World Rankings.

Chile had to work a little harder for their victory, a Benjamín Omega penalty and Ignacio Silva try only giving them an 8-0 advantage at half time. That advantage quickly grew to 15-0 within minutes of the restart with Omega converting Alejandro Rios’ try.

Julián Menutti did get Brazil on the scoreboard with two penalties around the hour mark, either side of another by Omega, but Chile put the gloss on the victory with a late try by Matías Cabrera.

A key tournament in developing the Game in the region, the South American Championship continues on Tuesday when Chile tackle Paraguay and Uruguay face Brazil, before the first phase concludes on Friday with Chile v Uruguay the highlight.

Chile and Uruguay will then face Argentina in phase two with the Pumas to field 11 players who helped the Pampas XV to win the South African domestic competition, the Vodacom Cup over the weekend.

Fixtures and Results

Phase One

14 May 2011 @ Cataratas Rugby Club in Iguazu
Uruguay 102-6 Paraguay
Chile 25-6 Brazil

17 May @ Cataratas Rugby Club in Iguazu
14:00 Chile v Paraguay
16:10 Uruguay v Brazil

20 May @ Cataratas Rugby Club in Iguazu
14:00 Uruguay v Chile
16:10 Brazil v Paraguay

Phase Two

22 May @ Cataratas Rugby Club in Iguazu
16:00 Argentina v Chile

25 May @ Capri, Posadas
16:00 Argentina v Uruguay