November Internationals Preview – Brazil

One day it may well be that the Americas Rugby Championship is viewed as the birth of something big for Brazil. After just one edition the Brazilians have truly come to life. It has brought much needed attention to a sport that is increasing in popularity and representation alike in the country. It has also enabled Os Tupis to join the November International set-up for the first time in history.

 

2016 FORM

Brazil enjoyed a strong debut campaign in the ARC. A narrow loss against Chile became a distant memory when Os Tupis shocked the USA to record a genuine upset. That one result did wonders for Brazil and for the tournament. It single-handedly demonstrated the gains that there are to be made from the investment.

In other matches over the past twelve months Brazil has beaten Colombia and Paraguay. In the 2016 South American Championship Brazil also completed a 20-20 home draw against Chile. Brazil was also very close to beating both Kenya and Uruguay.

Brazil’s 2016 November series is also to be ground-breaking. It will be a first ever tour of the old continent. Previous matches outside South America have been in the Caribbean, Canada, and Dubai.

 

HOW THEY MATCH UP

Brazil enters the November Internationals ranked 38th in the world. Germany and Portugal are both positioned higher, in 26th and 30th respectively. But with Kenya ranked 22nd Brazil is clearly in with a real chance of winning games. Playing at home against the Kenyans earlier this year Brazil had been leading only to lose late in the game by a single point. Moreover in 2015 Brazil competed well against Germany even though the scores suggest otherwise. Portugal has been struggling recently and has even been relegated to a lower division in Europe.

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Of Brazil’s roster only two play their rugby abroad. Argentina-based Yan Rosetti has emerged as first choice hooker and there is a new name set to debut on this trip. Flavio Chuahy of Madison United in Wisconsin has put his hand up for selection. The 27-year-old prop enters a large crop of front row forwards at Brazil’s disposal and will have a chance to put himself in the frame for the ARC. With numerous other contenders he’ll have to prove strength in the scrum and ability in the loose to stand out.

Second row has traditionally been an area of strength for Brazil but big bodies in recent times have been hard to come by. Enter the massive figure of Pedro Bengaló. At 1.93m (6’4″) he isn’t a towering figure at lock but he makes up for it with sheer bulk and power. After spending time playing as a professional in Portugal the 21-year-old is now with Desterro in Brazil and should win his first caps during the tour. A good showing will vault him into ARC contention.

Hailing from the unfashionable Guanabara club, a team who only officially joined the CBRu competition in 2010, Francisco Bouzas has emerged as a player of great interest for head coach Rodolfo Ambrosio. Capable of playing either halfback position, the 24-year-old native of Argentina impressed in the Taça Tupi competition, scoring 32 points in three games with his ability to kick off both feet marking him a unique footballer. It’s likely at flyhalf where he’ll get his chance with Os Tupis on this tour, where his goal-kicking prowess will be much needed if Brazil are to find success.

 

VERDICT

Brazil’s home matches against Portugal and Germany in recent years saw os Tupis outclassed. All three matches were won cleanly by the Europeans. Playing in Europe will complicate the task facing Brazil though it can be balanced out through experience in the ARC. The heavy investment going into competitions and leading players will be genuinely put to the test over the three matches. If Brazil can win one of the three the tour will be deemed a success.

 

FIXTURES

DATE	LOCAL	BRA	OPPONENT	LOCATION
Sat, Nov 19	15:00	12:00	vs Germany	Fritz Grunebaum Sportpark, Heidelberg
Sat, Nov 26	14:30	11:30	vs Germany	Bruno Plache Stadion, Leipzig
Thu, Dec 1	15:00	13:00	vs Portugal	Estadio Sérgio Conceição, Coimbra

 

SQUAD

[EDIT: unofficial cap totals – *no records included prior to 2008]

NAME	POS	HGT	WGT	DOB	CAPS	CLUB
Alves, Alexandre	PR	1.90 6-3	115 255	Jul 23 1996	1	Desterro
Chuahy, Flavio	PR	1.83 6-0	115 255	1989	–	Madison United (US)
Paulo, Jonatas	PR	1.76 5-9	110 240	May 14 1985	16	Bandeirantes
Rebolo, Wilton	PR	1.82 6-0	118 260	Aug 2 1995	10	São José
Silva, Caíque	PR	1.90 6-3	124 275	Nov 21 1993	9	Niterói
Danielewicz, Daniel	HO	1.74 5-9	102 225	Aug 8 1982	38*	Desterro
Rosetti, Yan	HO	1.75 5-9	96 210	May 7 1993	11	C.U.B.A. (AR)
Bengaló, Pedro	LO	1.93 6-4	127 280	Oct 14 1995	–	Desterro
Piero, Lucas	LO	1.89 6-2	107 235	Sep 25 1991	28	Desterro
Wolf, Matheus	LO	1.94 6-4	98 215	Jun 24 1995	5	Joaca
Dias, Cléber	FL/LO	1.93 6-4	105 230	Jul 3 1994	7	S.P.A.C.
Paganini, Gabriel	FL/LO	1.92 6-4	101 220	Mar 4 1993	2	Bandeirantes
Daniel, Matheus	FL	1.83 6-0	90 200	Jun 19 1990	17	Jacareí
Sousa, Joabe	FL	1.85 6-1	92 200	Aug 18 1995	–	Bandeirantes
da Ros, João Luiz	FL/N8	1.86 6-1	101 220	Jul 10 1982	39*	Desterro
Smith, Nick	N8	1.86 6-1	106 235	May 1 1986	28*	S.P.A.C.
Cremer, Beukes	SH	1.81 5-11	93 205	Oct 21 1987	15	Poli
Garcia, Bruno	SH	1.73 5-8	76 165	Mar 25 1993	8	Jacareí
Bouzas, Francisco	FH/SH	1.78 5-10	82 180	Apr 1 1992	–	Guanabara
Tenório, Robert	FH/WI	1.91 6-3	90 200	Jul 17 1996	7	Pasteur
Duque, Moisés	CE/FH	1.75 5-9	87 190	Dec 21 1988	29*	São José
Estrela, Mateus	CE	1.75 5-9	80 175	Nov 13 1995	12	Niterói
Sancery, Felipe	CE	1.85 6-1	92 200	May 27 1994	11	São José
Giantorno, Stefano	WI	1.75 5-9	90 200	Sep 17 1991	9	Niterói
Smanio, Luan	WI	1.85 6-1	90 200	Aug 27 1993	1	Desterro
Coghetto, Guilherme	FB/WI	1.78 5-10	90 200	May 2 1992	15	Desterro
Sancery, Daniel	FB	1.85 6-1	94 205	May 27 1994	9	São José