Warriors hooker Joe Taufete’e equalled the world record for tries by a front row forward in international rugby in USA’s 71-8 victory over Chile in their opening match of the Americas Rugby Championship in Santiago on Saturday.
Taufete’e scored his 15th international try to pull level with former Ireland hooker Keith Wood in the all-time rankings.
Taufete’e crossed early in the match for the first of USA’s 11 tries in only his 20th international appearance. Wood won 63 caps between 1994 and 2003 and scored his 15th and final try for Ireland in his 59th international.
Taufete’e will have three more opportunities to break Wood’s record as USA continue their attempt to win the Americas Championship for a third consecutive year.
USA face an Argentina XV in Rio Negro next Saturday in a non-cap international and then have three consecutive home matches against Brazil in Houston (February 23), Uruguay in Seattle (March 2) and Canada in Seattle (March 8).
Taufete’e made his international debut against South Africa in the 2015 World Cup and scored his first international try against Chile in his third Test in Fort Lauderdale the following year.