Americas Pacific Challenge – Round 1 Preview

The opening round of the Americas Pacific Challenge is upon us, and the teams have been named for tomorrow’s fixtures. All matches will be played at the Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo. As of the time of writing there is no free-to-air live stream for the first round, but South American viewers can watch the games live on DirecTV. The Rugby Channel will be broadcasting the USA Selects match but have not confirmed any other matches nor their availability to viewers outside of the USA.

 

ARGENTINA XV vs CANADA ‘A’
12:00 local, 11:00 ET, 08:00 PT

A difficult first-up match for the Canadians who field a side pieced together from across the country with constricted preparation time. Ray Barkwill leads an experienced front row with an a fully-capped loose forward trio that features the return of Lucas Rumball. Gordon McRorie wears the captain’s armband with Patrick Parfrey outside while fullback Rory McDonell wears a Canadian jersey for the first time after receiving a surprise call-up for the tournament.

Argentina lean heavily on the group that won the Americas Rugby Championship earlier this year and roll out an impressive forward pack with several Super Rugby players. Benjamin Macome makes his first appearance after returning from France in a fearsome back row, and Felipe Ezcurra will control the side as captain and halfback. Fernando Luna and Santiago Álvarez are included in the backline after featuring in the Rio Olympics.

ARGENTINA XV
1 Facundo Gigena 2 Axel Zapata 3 Cristian Bartoloni 4 Juan Cruz Guillemaín 5 Ignacio Larrague 6 Rodrigo Báez 7 Tomás Lezana 8 Benjamín Macome 9 Felipe Ezcurra (capt.) 10 Juan Cruz González 11 Fernando Luna 12 Juan Cappiello 13 Santiago Álvarez 14 Segundo Tuculet 15 Bautista Delguy

16 Gaspar Baldunciel 17 Nicolás Solveyra 18 Santiago Medrano 19 Pedro Ortega 20 Santiago Montagner 21 Gonzalo Bertranou 22 Domingo Miotti 23 Julián Domínguez

CANADA ‘A’
1 Rob Brouwer 2 Ray Barkwill 3 Ryan Kotlewski 4 Conor Keys 5 Adrian Wadden 6 Kyle Baillie 7 Matt Heaton 8 Lucas Rumball 9 Gordon McRorie (capt.) 10 Patrick Parfrey 11 Dan Moor 12 Ben LeSage 13 Guiseppe du Toit 14 Kainoa Lloyd 15 Rory McDonell

16 Martial Lagain 17 Peter Houlihan 18 Ryan Ackerman 19 Lucas Albornoz 20 Nanyak Dala 21 Andrew Ferguson 22 Robbie Povey 23 Anton Ngongo

Referee: Joaquín Montes (URU)
Assistants: Ricardo Sant’Anna (CBRu) & Gonzalo Ventoso (URU)
TMO: Francisco Pesce (URU)

 

USA SELECTS vs FIJI WARRIORS
14:15 local, 13:15 ET, 10:15 PT

Joe Taufete’e is given the captaincy in a mixed American side that contains five Eagles 7s reps in the backs. Sione Tu’ihalamaka continues his rugby education after impressing during the PRO Rugby season, and a super-sized second row features 2.03m (6’8″) duo Siaosi Mahoni and Matt Jensen. A strong bench gives the side options with Hanco Germishuys set to cover hooker and France-based Christian Ostberg hoping to impress as an impact replacement.

Provincial champions Nadroga provide nine starters to the Fijian side, including both the second and back row forwards. Veteran lock Rupeni Nasiga leads the side with the abrasive Nemani Nagusa on the flank. Livewire halfback Henry Seniloli is the only 2015 World Cup rep in the team, while Eroni Vasiteri is a danger man in the midfield having spent the 2015/16 season with Agen in the French Top 14.

USA SELECTS
1 Mason Pederson 2 Joe Taufete’e (capt.) 3 Demecus Beach 4 Siaosi Mahoni 5 Matt Jensen 6 Harry Higgins 7 Pat Blair 8 Sione Tu’ihalamaka 9 Stephen Tomasin 10 JP Eloff 11 Matai Leuta 12 Martin Iosefo 13 Bryce Campbell 14 Brett Thompson 15 Mike Te’o

16 Hanco Germishuys 17 Chance Wenglewski 18 Alex Maughan 19 Christian Ostberg 20 Malon Al-Jiboori 21 Nick Boyer 22 Ben Cima 23 Ahmad Harajly

FIJI WARRIORS
1 Joeli Veitayaki 2 Jerry Naureure 3 Mesake Doge 4 Rupeni Nasiga (capt.) 5 Mesulame Kunavula 6 Nemani Nagusa 7 Vasikali Mudu 8 Eremasi Radrodro 9 Henry Seniloli 10 Alivereti Veitokani 11 Fred Hickes 12 Eroni Vasiteri 13 Ifereimi Tovilevu 14 Apete Daveta 15 Lepani Raiyala

16 Iliesa Leca 17 Mosese Ducivaki 18 Kalivati Tawake 19 Esikia Macu 20 Sakiusa Nadruku 21 Sakiusa Gavidi 22 Ilimeleki Leiloma 23 Sitiveni Kunaga

Referee: Pali De Luca (UAR)
Assistants: Santiago Romero (URU) & Rodrigo Goyret (URU)
TMO: Alejandro Longres (URU)

 

SAMOA ‘A’ vs URUGUAY ‘A’
16:30 local, 15:30 ET, 12:30 PT

Hosts Uruguay field a virtually first choice tight five with Mario Sagario handed the captaincy for the rest of the year. Jerónimo Etcheverry is a surprise selection at flyhalf with Teritos scrumhalf Santiago Arata found on the wing in an otherwise experienced backline. Fellow u20 standouts Marcos Chamyán and Manuel Leindekar are set to see their first senior representative action as replacements.

The Samoans field a mix of local talent with New Zealand-based eligibles. A heavyweight front row is balanced by a very rapid loose forward trio led by captain Afa Aiono. Former New Zealand u20 midfielder Ope Peleseuma opts to chase test rugby for the country of his birth, and La’aloi Leilua starts on the wing after impressive during the World Rugby u20 Trophy tournament.

SAMOA ‘A’
1 Michael Tuiloma 2 Ropeti Lafo 3 Nephi Leatigaga 4 Talaga Alofipo 5 Mikaele Tapili 6 Joshua Fuimaono 7 Oneone Fa’afou 8 Afa Aiono (capt.) 9 Danny Tusitala 10 Patrick Fa’apale 11 La’aloi Leilua 12 Meki Magele 13 Ope Peleseuma 14 Jeff Makapelu 15 Malu Falaniko

16 Malcolm Tanielu 17 Sylvester Taupau 18 Lene Nu’uli 19 Callum Adams 20 Suamalie Tuiletufuta 21 Melani Matavao 22 Jack Saena 23 Johnny Va’ili

URUGUAY ‘A’
1 Mateo Sanguinetti 2 Juan Echeverría 3 Mario Sagario (capt.) 4 Diego Magno 5 Diego Ayala 6 Joaquín Dell’Acqua 7 Santiago Hernández 8 Gonzalo Soto 9 Guillermo Lijtenstein 10 Jerónimo Etcheverry 11 Santiago Gibernau 12 Nicolás Freitas 13 Joaquín Prada 14 Santiago Arata 15 Rodrigo Silva

16 Marcos Chamyán 17 Ignacio Secco 18 Diego Arbelo 19 Manuel Leindekar 20 Fernando Bascou 21 Facundo Klappenbach 22 Manuel Blengio 23 Juan Manuel Cat

Referee: Tim Baker (HKRFU)
Assistants: Ricardo Sant’Anna (CBRu) & Claudio Cattivelli (URU)
TMO: Francisco Pesce (URU)