Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Just four weeks remain the Top 14 regular season and two sides look a class apart with a swathe of teams sandwiched into a massively congested mid-table. La Rochelle are now 11 points clear of second place Clermont, who are themselves eight above Montpellier. Meanwhile the gap between 3rd place and 10th is only nine points, and 12th place Stade Français just three behind that.
Three games are of interest for the Americas this weekend. Stade do not have Sergio Parisse in their lineup for the road match at Bayonne so it will be up to the home side to provide a pair of South Americans. Chilean international Pablo Huete starts in the second row with Argentina’s Martín Bustos Moyano at fullback.
Patricio Fernández makes his first appearance for Clermont Auvergne since December after recovering from injury. The Argentine flyhalf starts against Brive who must find a way to come away with points if they are to make the barrages. US Eagles speedster Taku Ngwenya starts on the right wing for the visitors in one of the most intimidating environments in world rugby.
A handful of South Americans take part at Stade Pierre Antoine. Uruguay’s Rodrigo Capó Ortega will skipper Castres from his usual second row position, with Benjamín Urdapilleta at flyhalf and fellow Argentine international Horacio Agulla on the wing. Visiting Lyon will start Francisco Gómez Kodela at tighthead prop and Facundo Isa at his preferred No 8 position.
Sunday’s teams are still yet to be named with a few Americas players possibles to take part. Racing 92 host Pau with Juan Imhoff and Manuel Carizza available. Toulon have named Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe in their training group for the game while Toulouse could select his former Pumas teammate Patricio Albacete.
