Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Los Pumitas Head Coach Nicolás Fernández has his team ready for Wednesday’s World Rugby Junior World Championship fixture. The South Americans will take on Japan with a win seeing them top the pool which also includes France and South Africa.
Having beaten both pool opponents in matches this past week Los Pumitas are genuine title contenders. Central to the team’s success has been the blooding of players for additional teams including the Argentina XV with numerous players having had game time in the Americas Rugby Championship or Sudamérica Rugby Cup.
In looking to overcome Japan Nicolás Fernández Lobbe has made some changes. Bautista Stávile takes over from Conrado Roura at number 7 with Roura moving to 8 in place of Vicente Boronat.At scrum half Lautaro Bazán returns to start ahead of Patricio Baronio. Teo Castiglioni is also back, starting at inside center with Santiago Mare dropping to the bench. Finally José Barros Sosa has a chance in place of winger Tomás Malanos who is also to feature as a replacement.
There is also an alteration to the bench with Nahuel Milan having been named for the first time in the tournament.
Los Pumitas have sent warnings to rivals in the Junior World Championship. Victories by scorelines of 24-15 and 19-13 against South Africa have altered the play-offs script for the tournament. A win over Japan will see there Argentine side in the Semi Finals. England and Ireland are the two other undefeated sides after two rounds.
Japan started strongly, leading South Africa at the midway point. A strong second half from the Baby Boks, however, turned the match around with the Africans storming home to a 59-19 victory. France also proved superior, defeating Japan 46-14.
LOS PUMITAS
1 Rubén Ricco, 2 Gaspar Baldunciel, 3 Santiago Medrano, 4 Franco Molina, 5 Ignacio Calas, 6 Marcos Kremer, 7 Bautista Stávile, 8 Conrado Roura, 9 Lautaro Bazán, 10 Domingo Miotti, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Teo Castiglioni, 13 Juan Cruz Mallía (capt.), 14 José Barros Sosa, 15 Bautista Delguy
Replacements: 16 Román Pretz, 17 Juan Pablo Enríquez, 18 Gonzalo del Pazo, 19 Nahuel Milán, 20 Mariano Romanini, 21 Tomás Malanos, 22 Martín Elías, 23 Santiago Mare
