Uruguay opt for experience at Americas Pacific Challenge

Uruguay will use the Americas Pacific Challenge to audition a number of senior players for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers. Only two of the 28-man ‘A’ side are yet to win test caps and there are eight members of the 2015 Rugby World Cup team named in a squad brimming with experience.

Former Teros tighthead Oscar Duran, who retired after the tournament in England, will take charge of the team which will be captained by veteran scrumhalf Guillermo Lijtenstein. Returning to the side after long absences are front row Carlos Arboleya, second row Mathias Palomeque, and midfielder Joaquín Prada.

While several test starters have been rested by Teros coach Esteban Meneses the gaps have been filled by promising youngsters such as Teritos captain Agustín Della Corte and uncapped pair Leandro Segredo, the impressive Old Christians flanker, and Carrasco Polo scrumhalf Baltasar Brum.

Some interesting positional experiments are also on deck. Arboleya and Facundo Gattas will play prop with three other hookers named, and the absence of an experienced No 10 means that versatile halfback Lucas Durán and World Cup fullback Gastón Mieres are set to assume the key attacking role.

Uruguay will face Tonga, the USA, and Argentina beginning on October 7. All matches will be played at the Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo, with streaming details from World Rugby to be confirmed shortly. A detailed roster can be seen here.

FORWARDS
Carlos Arboleya (Trébol), Matías Benítez (Champagnat), Facundo Gattas (Lobos), Felipe Inciarte (Old Christians), Mario Sagario (Carrasco Polo), Marcos Chamyan (PSG), Germán Kessler (Los Cuervos), Carlos Pombo (Old Boys), Diego Ayala (MVCC), Diego Magno (MVCC), Mathias Palomeque (Trébol), Manuel Diana (Old Christians), Rodolfo Garese (Carrasco Polo), Juan Diego Ormaechea (Carrasco Polo), Leandro Segredo (Old Christians), Gonzalo Soto (Carrasco Polo)

BACKS
Baltasar Brum (Carrasco Polo), Guillermo Lijtenstein (capt., Trébol), Lucas Durán (Trébol), Gastón Mieres (Lobos), Rodrigo Bocking (Old Christians), Agustín Della Corte (Trebol), Joaquín Prada (Los Cuervos), Nicolás Freitas (Carrasco Polo), Gastón Gibernau (Old Boys), Leandro Leivas (Old Christians), Federico Favaro (Old Christians), Francisco López (Old Boys)

FIXTURES
Oct 7 – 16:30 local / 15:30 ET / 12:30 PT – vs Tonga ‘A’
Oct 11 – 16:30 local / 15:30 ET / 12:30 PT – vs USA Select XV
Oct 15 – 16:30 local / 15:30 ET / 12:30 PT – vs Argentina XV