Brazil Change Six for Paraguay

Brazil has made six changes for Saturday’s final round fixture of the 2016 South American A Championship. Brazil face Paraguay in Asunción with the winner avoiding the wooden spoon and, also, securing their place in the 2017 edition of the tournament.

The loser will have a close watch on the South American B Championship. Set to be hosted by Peru in October the winner will face the bottom placed South American A Championship side in repechage. The identity of that team will be one of Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Peru or Venezuela or the Rugby Americas North qualifying winner.

Brazil’s investment in resources, players and involvement in the Americas Rugby Championship places the team in an extremely formidable position. The chances of a shock loss against Paraguay are minimal. This is the case even though Paraguay won the 2015 fixture 17-11 in Bento Gonçalves, Brazil.

Looking to go one better than the 20-20 draw against Chile last Saturday os Tupis Head Coach, Rodolfo Ambrosio has changed both wingers with Lucas Muller and Stefano Giantorno in two of his six alterations.

At scrum half Lucas Duque makes way for Poli number 9 Beukes Cremer. Duque has been released to train with the Brazilian Sevens team for the upcoming Paris Sevens. João Luiz da Ros takes over the captaincy from Nick Smith but Smith will, nonetheless, retain his starting position. They are to be joined by Arthur Bergo in the back-row.

Cleber Dias earns a start in the second-row, joining veteran Diego Lopez with the remaining change seeing the return of Wilton Rebolo at tighthead prop.

BRAZIL
1 Lucas Abud (SPAC), 2 Yan Rosetti (CUBA, Argentina), 3 Wilton Rebolo (São José), 4 Cleber Dias (Wallys), 5 Diego Lopez (Pasteur), 6 Arthur Bergo (SPAC), 7 João Luiz da Ros (Desterro – capt.), 8 Nick Smith (SPAC), 9 Beukes Cremer (Poli), 10 Moisés Duque (São José), 11 Stefano Giantorno (NaFor), 12 Laurent Bourda-Couhet (Bandeirantes Saracens), 13 Felipe Sancery (São José), 14 Lucas Muller (Desterro), 15 Daniel Sancery (São José)

Replacements: 16 Luan Almeida (Jacareí), 17 Caique Silva (NaFor), 18 Jonatas Paulo (Bandeirantes Saracens), 19 Gabriel Paganini (Bandeirantes Saracens), 20 Mark Jackson, (Desterro), 21 Mateus Estrela (Niterói), 22 Matheus Cruz (Jacareí), 23 Guilherme Coghetto (Desterro)