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Lin (48')
Tries
Santamaria (3'), Bay (18', 61'), Cian (32'), Ariceta (42'), Imaz (70'), Casteglioni (74')
Porcher (50')
Conversions
Bontempo (4', 19', 33', 43')
Perrod (12', 28')
Penalties
Spain had their fate in their own hands going into this match. The atmosphere was electric in the Stade Municipal, with Swiss fans celebrating their first home game in the REC. Spain needed to settle into the game and banish any nerves, ideally they would dominate possession.
After 2 minutes, Spain won a penalty kick which was not tucked away. Early pressure from Spain.
Spain over for a try after a great line to punch a hole through the Swiss defence by Gonzalo Lopez Bontempo, who was able to give Lucas Santamaria a easy run in. Conversion was tucked away.
Spain won the ball back after the restart, then a breakdown penalty gifts Spain chance to put the lineout maul to work from inside the 22. Maul held firm, and a mistake with a forward pass gives Swiss the chance to reset. Scrum penalty for Swiss to relieve the pressure.
A string of infringements in defence by Spain allowed Switzerland a chance to cover metres into Spanish territory. Penalty awarded to Switzerland on halfway after a TMO for potential dangerous foul play. Switzerland enjoy a few phases of attacking play, when the ball is ripped by Spain. But Switzerland act fast to win the penalty at the subsequent breakdown. Giving them a chance to kick for the sticks. Which Simon Perrod dispatched and got their first points in the REC.
Spain found themselves back in the Swiss 22 with a lineout after an offside penalty was awarded. The driving maul started to gather pace but the Ref awarded the Swiss a obstruction penalty just as it was about to be grounded. Switzerland cleared their lines, and kicked for territory, which Spain picked up on their try line and managed to clear back past the Swiss 10 m line for a lineout. Ball was won back swiftly by Spain, who managed to get it back through the back line where Federico Casteglioni found himself in clear space, to pass back inside for Estanislao Bay to dot down near the sticks. Conversion tucked away by Lopez.
Spain managed to go through the backline again from the restart, offloads galore found themselves back on the Swiss 22 but the final pass was a forward and awarded Swiss a scrum to clear their lines, once again.
Switzerland nearly managed to find some luck with a cross field kick but Spain intercepted the offload. Thankfully for Switzerland it was pulled back for penalty advantage. After a number of errors from both sides at the set pieces, Switzerland still found themselves still in the Spanish 22, with another scrum for them to turn the screw if possible. A number of exciting phases of Swiss attacking play while under penalty advantage. The Ref pulled it back again after no advantage gained for another Swiss penalty, this time pretty much in front of the posts. Which we convincingly tucked away.
Switzerland were being to gain confidence in their performance so far. The pressure was starting to tell, with another penalty awarded to Switzerland on the halfway line. Allowing them to put themselves back on the Spanish 22 for a lineout charge. But the errors crept in, and Switzerland knocked on awarding Spain a scrum on their own 22.
The Spain attacking line was through the hands and into space. A nudge over the top nearly gave Spain a try, but Swiss 10 managed to get their first. But held on too long, got pinged and a yellow for his troubles.
Spain kicked for a lineout, the maul was resisted , so the pick and goes began under penalty advantage. After 3 or 4 more great attempts but desperate defence from the Swiss forced Spain to end up throwing it out wide for Martiniano Cian to dot down in the corner. Conversion was still slotted even with the harder conversion than if the 2 attempts under the posts had been successful.
Switzerland were not going to roll over, even down to 14, after a number of sublime attacking lines. They found success close to the breakdown but after a clumsy attempt to create a maul gifted Spain the penalty to clear their lines from inside their own 22.
Spain enjoyed a few phases of attacking play, with Estanislao Bay playing conductor for the attack. But the final execution through the back line was missing on a few occasions. Switzerland held strong and wanted to run their way out when they could. It ended with the Swiss kicking out for half time.
Spain are doing the same as Georgia did yesterday and trying to force the issue, leading to unnecessary errors. But its not just down to Spain, Switzerland have definitely got a confidence behind them after a solid first half. Spain will be looking to get more clinical in the second half to take the game away from Switzerland, while the Swiss will be looing to remove the errors that have killed their attacking chances.
Spain started the second half again with direct running, and making metres. But the final touch let them down again. The Swiss scrum twisted and a injured Swiss scrum half was a passenger, allowing the Spanish to win the ball back at the breakdown. Martiniano Cian snuck round the blind from the messy breakdown, before offloading to Manex Ariceta to dot down uncontested. Conversion made from out wide again.
Martiniano Cian soon found himself spend 10 mins in the bin for a deliberate knock on. Giving the Swiss a chance to kick into Spain territory, Spain won the lineout. But a scrappy clearance allowed Switzerland to have a lineout back in the same spot. Further scrappy play from both sides, found Switzerland spend more time in the Spain half.
Switzerland managed to win a scrum penalty and this time opt to go for the 5 m lineout, rather than the sticks. Switzerland nail the long lineout and set off for the line. Nearly everyone piles into the maul, and forces over Tom Nublat near the corner. Giving the Swiss their first try in the REC now, making full use of the extra player. Conversion was slotted very well too.
Switzerland manage to win yet another penalty at scrum time to turn the possession back to them. With another lineout opted for on halfway, the driving maul worked again and marched the Spanish back past their 10m line. With another penalty advantage, they are able to nudge towards the corner when play brought back. Spain hold this maul back and the subsequent attacking phases. Eventually leading to a few handbags, when Switzerland are awarded another penalty 5 metres out. Which they nudge for the lineout option again.
Switzerland keep turning the screw but the Spanish defence stands strong after a number of phases. Ending with a Spain scrum on their 5m line for a knock on. Where Spain get the penalty for collapsing the scrum, the penalty clearance was barely kicked out of the 22 by Lopez. Spain win the lineout penalty and able to march the Swiss back to halfway line.
Estanislao Bay tried to speed up on the game but unforced errors again led to Spain giving away a scrum. Spain managed to win the ball back at the scrum, where Estanislao Bay snuck round the scrum and cruised through just left of the sticks. While the Conversion was pushed wide from a easy position.
Switzerland nearly found their way over the try line after some frenetic offloading in broken play, but the final grubber went dead. Spain went for the quick restart from the 22, Donovan O'Grady tried to stop this with a reckless tackle that was high. Donovan O'Grady got a yellow for the attempt, and Spain found themselves on the halfway line. With a penalty to kick to the Swiss 22. But Spain butchered the lineout with a not straight throw.
The subsequent scrum gifted the Swiss back possession for a early engagement penalty. Spain received the ball back and set off wide. a lovely nudge through found itself in Spain hands and what looked to be a certain try. But great Swiss defence stopped it on the line, but a couple of phases later it was pushed over in the corner by Ekain Imaz. Conversion was unsuccessful too from out wide.
Spain managed another successful sequence of phases around the outside allowing Federico Casteglioni to run round the corner and dot down. After another failed conversion attempt, Spain found themselves 43 -13 to the good with 3 minutes remaining.
Switzerland managed to put themselves on the Spanish 5 metre line from the restart and after a collision in the air, Spain 20 was yellow carded. Switzerland had another lineout on the 5 metre line, after a couple of phases it found the Swiss captain, who sadly knocked on a couple of metres away from the corner. Spain had a scrum on their 5m to see the game out, where they won the scrum penalty too. A tap from Lopez and a nudge into touch saw Spain through to the RWC 2027!
Essentially the job is done! But Spain will feel they could have been more convincing even with 7 tries scored. Switzerland will be buoyed by their performance too!
