Brazil Arrive in Canada without David Harvey

With two bonus point losses in the opening two rounds of the Americas Rugby Championship, Brazil arrive in Canada in confident form. Written off before the tournament, the Tupis were tipped by many to suffer big losses. To the credit of the team and tournament organizers the Brazilians have proven more than worthy of their place in the competition.

This Saturday’s away match is to be more difficult than the opening two fixtures. Neither Chile nor Uruguay have the calibre of a roster which Canada does and the North Americans performed very well at home first up against Los Teros.

Brazil’s assignment will be the toughest yet and the Tupis will have to make due without David Harvey. The Australian flyhalf is the most notable absentee in the 26-man roster which is now training in the Vancouver area ahead of Saturday’s historic test match against Canada. In Harvey’s absence 19-year-old flyhalf Matheus Cruz has been selected for the first time, though the more experienced Lucas Duque is likely to move from scrumhalf to flyhalf to start the test.

Second or back row Matheus Wolf and prop Jonatas Paulo are the only other players not to have featured in the opening two rounds of the Americas Rugby Championship. Wolf was involved in Brazil’s home series late last year against Germany while Paulo has been recalled after a lengthy absence to replace retiring Jardel Vettorato.

The roster includes six players based outside of Brazil. Three play their rugby in Argentina and three in France. The match will be streamed live by Rugby Canada, with kickoff set for 4pm local (PST), 10pm Brasilia time.

FORWARDS
Lucas Abud (S.P.A.C.), Vitor Ancina (Curitiba), Jonatas Paulo (Band Saracens), Wilton Rebolo (São José), Caique Silva (C.U.Q.), Daniel Danielewicz (Desterro), Yan Rosetti (C.U.B.A.), Lucas Piero (Desterro), Luiz Vieira (Oyonnax), Felipe Tissot (Curitiba), Cléber Dias (Wallys), Matheus Wolf (Joaca), João Luiz da Ros (Desterro), Mark Jackson (Desterro), Nick Smith (S.P.A.C.)

BACKS
Laurent Bourda-Couhet (Band Saracens), Beukes Cremer (Pasteur), Matheus Cruz (Jacareí), Lucas Duque (São José), Moisés Duque (São José), Mateus Estrela (Niterói), Felipe Sancery (Albi), Guilherme Coghetto (Farrapos), Stefano Giantorno (San Luis), Lucas Muller (Desterro), Daniel Sancery (Albi)