The Albany Gazette - Debutant Chilean players drowned out by World Cup noise

The plucky South Americans put up an impressive showing on their debut, scoring the opening try before Japan eventually blew them away 42-12 in sweltering Toulouse on Sunday.

The players did not just have to adapt to a step up in class but also to the challenges posed by the biggest crowd they had ever played in front of.

"We have never played with so many people present," Torrealba told reporters from the team's base in Perros-Guirec, Brittany.

"The most we have played in front of would be 15,000 and in Toulouse it was 30,000.

"It was difficult to communicate with each other, it was more looking than listening to each other."

Among the crowd were Torrealba's family, girlfriend, school friends and even club team-mates. But he was also impressed by how many locals had come out to support the team.

"There are a lot of Chileans in France who push us a lot. The people there were incredible. This is a party."

Two days after their historic match, Torrealba was still on a high.

He was heavily involved in the try by fly-half Rodrigo Fernandez that gave Chile a shock sixth-minute lead.

"It was crazy, something incredible. We are all very proud of the team's fighting spirit," said Torrealba.

Chile gave a good account of themselves but as the game wore on Japan's class told.

"We learned that at this level mistakes are very expensive."

Next up for the tournament outsiders is Samoa in Bordeaux on Saturday but Torrealba and his team-mates already have one eye on Argentina, whom they play in their final Pool D match in Nantes next month.

It will be the first ever Rugby World Cup clash between two South American nations.

"It will be historic for South American rugby," said the scrum-half.

"But we have to go game by game and now think about Samoa. Every game is a new adventure, something new. We are setting the limit."

(T.Renner--BBZ)