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Chile have named a strong side to face Brazil in a Rugby World Cup Qualifier. The teams are to meet this Saturday in a must-win match as they dream of playing in Japan 2019.
Captained by hooker Manuel Gurruchaga, Los Cóndores are to have a very competitive side. Top 14 Loose Head prop Ramón Ayarza will join him in the front-row. Also included from Europe is Francisco de la Fuente who will play inside center. Missing is Pablo Huete who is yet to recover from injury suffered playing for Bayonne.
The side is the strongest Chile has put together this year. It comes at a welcome time as a loss is all but certain elimination from Rugby World Cup qualifying. It would also complicate the team’s chances at finishing in the top two of the South American A Championship.
Unlike the Americas Rugby Championship Chile is to have full access to Los Cóndores 7’s players. Captain Felipe Brangier will play wing against Brazil while Ignacio Silva is back to play flanker and Francisco Urroz will provide options at fullback and fly half from the bench.
The remainder of the side is regular players, Chile’s best home based talent. This includes Anton Petrowitsch and Benjamín Soto, both of whom will play in the back row.
Francisco González Moller’s past experience playing club rugby in New Zealand will see him continue to be one of the leading backs. The center pairing of Francisco de la Fuente and Matías Nordenflycht gives Chile a potent 10-12-13 combination.
Saturday’s test match will be played at the Estadio Municipal de La Pintana. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:45pm.
CHILE
1 Ramón Ayarza, 2 Manuel Gurruchaga (capt.), 3 José Tomás Munita, 4 Nikola Bursic, 5 Mario Mayol, 6 Ignacio Silva, 7 Anton Petrowitsch, 8 Benjamín Soto, 9 Jan Hasenlechner, 10 Francisco González Moller, 11 Franco Velarde, 12 Francisco de la Fuente, 13 Matías Nordenflycht, 14 Felipe Brangier, 15 Tomás Ianiszewski
Replacements: 16 Tomás Dussaillant, 17 Vittorio Lastra, 18 Maximiliano Hurtado, 19 Manuel Dagnino, 20 Alfonso Rioja, 21 Beltrán Vergara, 22 Francisco Urroz, 23 José Ignacio Larenas
