Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Rodolfo Ambrosio has made five changes to his Tupis side to face Uruguay on Saturday in the third round of the Americas Rugby Championship. Five of the forwards who took part in the lopsided defeat to the Eagles in Texas have been left out for the game in Maldonado, with only one new name in the backs.
Wilton Rebolo switches to loosehead prop with man-mountain Pedro Bengaló set to make his first test start at tighthead. Veteran hooker Daniel Danielewicz starts for the first time in a year with Yan Rosetti failing a late fitness test. Uncapped Curitiba hooker Endy Willian has been called up to cover from the bench, with 19-year-old Matheus ‘Blade’ Rocha also set to win his first test cap as a reserve prop.
The second row sees Diego Lopez recalled with Luiz Vieira out of the squad completely, while there are new flankers in openside Matheus Daniel and blindside Cléber Dias. Last week’s pair of João Luiz da Ros and André Arruda are benched, with captain Nick Smith spared the axe.
On the wing there is no place for Stefano Giantorno, with Robert Tenorio named on the right side and De Wet van Niekerk switched over to the left. There is also a new name on the bench with uncapped Jacareí fullback Ariel Rodrigues called up to replace Guilherme Coghetto.
BRAZIL
1 Wilton Rebolo, 2 Daniel Danielewicz, 3 Pedro Bengaló, 4 Lucas Piero, 5 Diego López, 6 Matheus Daniel, 7 Cléber Dias, 8 Nick Smith (capt.), 9 Matheus Cruz, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 De Wet van Niekerk, 12 Moisés Duque, 13 Felipe Sancery, 14 Robert Tenório, 15 Daniel Sancery
Replacements: 16 Endy Willian, 17 Vitor Ancina, 18 Matheus Rocha, 19 André Arruda, 20 João Luiz da Ros, 21 Beukes Cremer, 22 Luan Smanio, 23 Ariel Rodrigues
