November Internationals Preview – Chile

The creation of the Americas Rugby Championship is truly transformational. It brings together the six leading rugby countries in the Americas in an annual format. For the countries themselves it provides significantly increased opportunities. Chile is one country to be a significant benefactor.

2016 FORM

In years gone by Chile has not been involved in the November Internationals. In fact Chile’s one and only November tour took place in 2005 away to Portugal and Georgia. An away match against Spain in November 2015 is the only additional fixture.

In 2016 Los Cóndores will have two test matches. Both are to be at home with South Korea visiting Santiago. It sees the Chileans playing eleven matches in 2016, a sizable amount considering that of previous years. From 2011-2015 Chile had four matches per year while in 2010 the number was five.

In 2016 Los Cóndores have two wins, one draw and six losses thus far. The wins came against Brazil and Paraguay while the draw was in the second of two tests against os Tupis. A number of the losses have been heavy. Canada, the USA and the Argentina XV won by margins of 51, 64 and 75 points.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

Chile’s results have seen the country sliding slightly downward in rankings this year. Presently Los Cóndores are 28th in the world, one spot above South Korea. With the countries being so close it makes rankings points all the more significant. Regardless of the outcome of the matches both teams rankings’ points will be affected.

Neither country has ever qualified for a Rugby World Cup. Instead they are fringe countries in their respective continents. Chile was previously on par with Uruguay but is now clearly behind. With Brazil’s advancements the Americas Rugby Championship is a strong indicator as to who is third.

South Korea has dropped from being the undisputed number two in Asia to now being lower. Today the country is officially third behind Japan and Hong Kong. Curiously, Uruguay was well-beaten by Japan over two tests in 2015 but Los Teros were much better than Hong Kong when they met in Rugby World Cup 2015 qualifiers.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Of Chile’s roster no player is based abroad. Instead Chile is seeking to develop more options for the Americas Rugby Championship. By the time February 2017 rolls around Los Cóndores hope to prove to be more competitive. Players based in Europe will be made available for Chile at that time.

The creative Francisco González Moller is back at fly half for Los Cóndores. Having been a critic of the administration the Sporting has had play-maker had limited opportunities in 2017. Having previously played club rugby in New Zealand club mates of González Moller have told Americas Rugby News just how special of a player he is. His option taking and skill-set make him a genuine weapon which South Korea will do well to fend off.

Chile did not perform as well as it had intended in the inaugural Americas Rugby Championship. The team, nonetheless, had some players to stand-out. One such example was flanker Javier Richard. With an outstanding work rate and combative style he is a vital part of the Cóndores forward pack.

Scrum half Juan Pablo Perrotta was another to earn praise. 27 test veteran will be responsible for bossing around the Chilean pack. Playing against the smaller South Koreans, Perrotta has a great opportunity to grow as a player and help his team to a home series victory.

Seven of the roster members are uncapped. One player looking to shine is Tomás Ianiszewski. The Old Locks outside back will start the first test on the right wing. His reputation suggests that he has plenty to contribute to his team’s cause.

VERDICT

Home advantage and world rankings ought to give Chile the edge. Their Asian opponents are very much entering no-mans-land. Never before has South Korea ventured on such a tour. Their rugby, at senior level, has always been Asian. Although the countries have never played before in a test  match they have done so at under 20 level. At the Junior World Trophy in Nairobi, Kenya Chile defeated South Korea 49-21 in 2009.

FIXTURES

DATE	LOCAL	ET	OPPONENT	LOCATION
Sun, Nov 13	16:00	13:00	vs South Korea	Estadio de Apoquindo, Las Condes
Sat, Nov 19	18:00	16:00	vs South Korea	Old Grangonian Club, Santiago

SQUAD

NAME	POS	HGT	WGT	DOB	CAPS	CLUB
Bordigoni, Lucas	PR	1.90 6-3	125 275	1996	–	Viña
Gurruchaga, Iñaki	PR	1.85 6-1	104 230	Oct 31 1995	3	Old Johns
Ide, Álvaro	PR	1.78 5-10	113 250	1990	–	Old Reds
Lastra, Vittorio	PR	1.83 6-0	112 245	Mar 26 1996	–	Old Macks
Munita, José Tomás	PR	1.91 6-3	120 265	Aug 11 1992	10	Universidad Católica
Sepúlveda, Luis	PR	1.78 5-10	116 255	Jul 13 1982	12	Los Troncos
Zamorano, Claudio	PR	1.78 5-10	105 230	Jan 8 1989	15	Stade Francais
Dussaillant, Tomás	HO	1.76 5-9	100 220	Apr 26 1990	4	Old Boys
Gurruchaga, Manuel	HO	1.78 5-10	103 225	Apr 3 1983	10	C.O.B.S.
Parra, Sebastián	HO	1.71 5-7	97 215	Sep 5 1995	1	Universidad Católica
Álvarez, Ignacio	LO	1.93 6-4	105 230	Jul 23 1988	9	C.O.B.S.
Bursic, Nikola	LO/N8	1.89 6-2	117 255	Aug 12 1993	9	C.O.B.S.
Mayol, Mario	LO	1.94 6-4	112 245	Jul 12 1994	5	Old Boys
Piwonka, Raimundo	LO	1.93 6-4	105 230	Dec 7 1986	10	P.W.C.C.
Carrasco, Gustavo	FL	1.84 6-0	102 225	Jan 30 1992	1	Old Boys
Hurtado, Francisco	FL/LO	1.88 6-2	97 215	Jun 11 1985	1	Old Georgians
Niedmann, Cristóbal	FL	1.72 5-8	90 200	Dec 9 1992	23	P.W.C.C.
Richard, Javier	FL	1.86 6-1	96 210	Feb 25 1991	12	C.O.B.S.
Soto, Benjamín	FL/N8	1.82 6-0	98 215	Aug 26 1987	24	Stade Francais
Petrowitsch, Anton	N8	1.94 6-4	96 210	Oct 20 1994	4	C.O.B.S.
Sigren, Martín	N8	1.91 6-3	92 200	1995	–	Old Boys
Larenas, Juan Pablo	SH	1.69 5-6	75 165	Jun 1 1992	3	Universidad Católica
Perrotta, Juan Pablo	SH	1.73 5-8	83 180	May 9 1987	27	Universidad Católica
Vergara, Beltrán	SH	1.76 5-9	81 175	Dec 15 1990	6	Old Boys
Castillo, Jorge	FH	? ?	? ?		–	A.R.U.A.
González Moller, Francisco	FH	1.81 5-11	95 210	Apr 9 1988	2	Sporting
Fernández, Rodrigo	FH/FB	1.83 6-0	82 180	1996	3	C.O.B.S.
Neira, Francisco	CE	1.85 6-1	91 200	Jun 26 1991	5	Old Johns
Nordenflycht, Matías	CE	1.86 6-1	100 220	Feb 10 1994	15	C.O.B.S.
Sifri, Ricardo	CE	1.70 5-7	83 180	Feb 6 1988	1	Universidad Católica
Brangier, Felipe	CE/WI	1.90 6-3	101 220	Nov 5 1988	6	P.W.C.C.
Larenas, José Ignacio	CE/WI	1.82 6-0	89 195	Sep 14 1989	18	Universidad Católica
Contreras, Matías	WI	1.87 6-2	86 190	Dec 28 1994	11	Alumni
Ianiszewski, Tomás	WI/FB	1.82 6-0	83 180	May 15 1992	–	Old Locks
Neira, Felipe	WI	1.88 6-2	85 185	Aug 8 1994	–	Old Johns
Verschae, Pedro	WI	1.80 5-11	87 190	Oct 25 1990	7	Viña
Casas, Pablo	FB	1.88 6-2	90 200	Mar 4 1992	8	P.W.C.C.
Fernández, Martín	FB	1.83 6-0	87 190	Aug 9 1994	4	C.O.B.S.