Match Preview – Argentina XV vs Brazil

It will be a memorable event on Saturday test rugby is played as far south as it can possibly go. Ushuaia and the aptly-named Estadio Agustín Pichot will host the Argentina XV and Brazil. Of course with remoteness comes less inviting weather, and while the damp and windy conditions forecast are unlikely to spell a first Americas Rugby Championship loss for the Argentines, it could slow the pursuit of the bonus point try, which has suddenly become reasonably important in the unlikely event of a another draw with the USA next weekend.

The defending champions have again opted to use the tournament as a development tool, making frequent changes to the lineups though their style of play has remained a constant. High tempo attacking rugby is their mantra, even in the snows of Langford, so there is no reason to think a southern gale might sway their thinking.

Returning to the lineup are impressive halfbacks Sebastian Cancelliere and Domingo Miotti. The former has been a bit of a surprise package, having previously been selected as a wing, while the latter looks a blue chip prospect for future senior honours. Tomas Granella starts in the midfield to give the backline a different look, a distributor as opposed to Bruno Devoto’s running game of a week ago. Outside him there is less side this week but plenty of gas, with Segundo Tuculet another highly skilled attacker much like older brother Joaquín.

A well-rounded loose forward trio sits behind a more-than-useful tight five who could make life very miserable for the Brazilian forwards, outgunned and outplayed by the Uruguayans last weekend. Alejo Brem is the latest tighthead prop to be given a trial run, while San Luis rake Marcelo Brandi has another chance to put his hand up for selection in the big game next weekend. The bench offers to respite, with highly rated Jaguares outside back Emiliano Boffelli counting the seconds to his return after recovering from knee surgery.

Brazil have freshened up their pack, recalling fit-again Yan Rosetti at hooker and opting to start Caíque Silva at tighthead, only slightly less imposing than the man he replaces Pedro Bengaló. Gabriel Paganini comes into the second row in a bid to shore up the lineout that was ravaged by the Uruguayans. Paganini doesn’t quite tower over the displaced Lucas Piero but he is a step up in athleticism. Veterans João Luiz da Ros and André Arruda are back on the flanks to restore the most experienced available back row.

The backs remain the same bar one change, with newcomer Ariel Rodrigues handed his first start and Roberto Tenório dropped to the bench. One does wonder whether it matters who lines up out wide, given that the Tupis have thus far all but ignored their primary attacking weapons. Their kick-first attitude has yielded just two tries in three games, both scored by backs but coming directly from set pieces without so much as a pass. If caution were to be thrown to the win, Ushuaia would be the place to do it.

Chances of an upset at the bottom of the world seem as remote as their locale, but in the land of penguins stranger things have happened. All joking aside, the only hope for Brazil is to get the ball in the hands of a Sancery and see what happens. Playing conservative rugby in a game they are virtually guaranteed to lose will achieve nothing. Expect a sloppy game at times but another dominant win for the home team looks etched in stone.

 

ARGENTINA XV
1 Franco Brarda, 2 Marcelo Brandi, 3 Alejo Brem, 4 Pedro Ortega, 5 Ignacio Larrague, 6 Mariano Romanini, 7 Lautaro Bavaro (capt.), 8 Tomás de la Vega, 9 Sebastián Cancelliere, 10 Domingo Miotti, 11 Franco Cuaranta, 12 Tomás Granella, 13 Segundo Tuculet, 14 Germán Schulz, 15 Juan Cruz González

Replacements: 16 Gaspar Baldunciel, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Lautaro Bazán, 22 Juan Cappiello, 23 Emiliano Boffelli

BRAZIL
1 Wilton Rebolo, 2 Yan Rosetti, 3 Caíque Silva, 4 Gabriel Paganini, 5 Diego López, 6 João Luiz da Ros, 7 André Arruda, 8 Nick Smith (capt.), 9 Matheus Cruz, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 De Wet van Niekerk, 12 Moisés Duque, 13 Felipe Sancery, 14 Ariel Rodrigues, 15 Daniel Sancery

Replacements: 16 Daniel Danielewicz, 17 Vitor Ancina, 18 Pedro Bengaló, 19 Lucas Piero, 20 Matheus Daniel, 21 Beukes Cremer, 22 Luan Smanio, 23 Robert Tenório

 

Date: Saturday, February 25
Venue: Estadio Agustín Pichot, Ushuaia
Kickoff: 17:30 local (12:30 Pacific, 15:30 Eastern)
Referee: Claudio Cattivelli (URU)
Assistants: Damián Schneider (UAR) & Pablo De Luca (UAR)
Broadcasts: ESPN, TSN Go