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Hong Kong claimed their first win of the World Rugby Nations Cup with a 42-40 victory over Uruguay at Estadio Charrúa, coming from 33-20 down to snatch it in a game the hosts looked to have under control. For a side that had shipped 104 points across their opening two pool fixtures, this was a significant turnaround, and it leaves Uruguay with plenty to reflect on.
J. Myszka (5', 24', 28'), M. Diana (30'), J. Alonso (42'), F. Capdevila (75')
Tries
A. Post (20'), M. Worley (45'), M. Ramage (58'), Penalty Try (65'), B. Nell (67')
J. Cotarmanac'h (25', 29', 31', 42', 76')
Conversions
P. Altier (21', 46', 59')
Penalties
P. Altier (14', 23', 78')
The scoreline tells the story of a match that swung hard in the second half. Uruguay led 26-13 at the break and stretched clear again early after the restart. From there, though, the game got away from them.
The hosts came out fast. Joaquin Myszka crossed inside the opening five minutes, the first of what became a hat-trick for the hooker, and Uruguay's forward carrying set the early tone. Even a Paul Altier penalty on 14 minutes and an Alexander Post try on 20 did little to slow them.
Myszka went over twice more in a busy first-half spell, and Manuel Diana added another before the half-hour. With Jean Cotarmanac'h tidy from the tee, Uruguay looked comfortable. A yellow card to Hong Kong's Lachlan Doheny on 26 minutes only added to the home side's momentum.
Uruguay stretched the lead to 33-13 early in the second half through Juan Manuel Alonso, and at that point a bonus-point win looked the likely outcome. But Hong Kong's response became the defining feature of the afternoon.
Matt Worley struck first from fullback, then Marcus Ramage crossed on 58 minutes as the visitors began winning the collisions and getting quicker ball. The numbers back up that shift: Hong Kong beat 26 defenders to Uruguay's 19 and made 117 tackles, evidence of a side that grew into the contest rather than fading under the scoreboard pressure.
The key spell came around the hour. A penalty try on 65 minutes, alongside a yellow card for Myszka, cut the gap to a single point. Brendon Nell, off the bench, then finished to put Hong Kong ahead at 39-33. Nell's cameo was telling — two carries, 46 metres and a clean break, exactly the sort of late spark a tiring defence struggles to contain.
Uruguay did edge back in front through Francisco Gonzalez Capdevila on 75 minutes, converted by Cotarmanac'h, but a yellow card to Alfonso Vidal on 77 left them a man short at the worst moment. Altier held his nerve to land the decisive penalty on 78 minutes, and Hong Kong saw it out.
CARRIES
CLEAN BREAK
DEFENDER BEATEN
TACKLE
MISSED TACKLE
TURNOVER WON
TURNOVERS CONCEDED
PENALTY CONCEDED
YELLOW CARD
POSSESSION
SCRUMS
LINEOUTS
This one will sting. Uruguay had the lead, the momentum and enough of a platform, yet still let it slip. Discipline was a clear problem: 14 penalties conceded and two yellow cards, the second of which opened the door for Altier's winner. They also coughed up 12 turnovers to Hong Kong's seven, handing a side that had struggled in its opening two matches repeated chances to build pressure.
There was plenty to admire in the attacking play, particularly from Myszka and Capdevila, but control deserted them when the game needed managing. Leading by 13 early in the second half, Uruguay could not shut the door.
| # | Team | PL | W | L | D | PD | BP | PTS | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Georgia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 09 | W W |
| 2 |  Romania | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -16 | 3 | 09 | W D L |
| 3 |  Portugal | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 3 | 07 | W L |
| 4 |  Spain | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 07 | W D |
| 5 |  Zimbabwe | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -26 | 1 | 01 | L L |
| 6 |  Hong Kong | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -68 | 0 | 00 | L L |
Hong Kong get off the mark with their first win of the campaign, having previously lost to Samoa and Chile. Uruguay, meanwhile, remain without a win after a draw with Romania and defeats to Georgia and now Hong Kong.
For a Uruguay side playing at home, this was a painful one to let slip.
