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With two amateur club sides now in their rear view mirror the Houston SaberCats will take a big leap up in competition when they host the Uruguayan national team at Constellation Field on Saturday evening. It’s a big match for both sides not just in terms of visibility but for preparation. Houston were given a reality check by the UBCOB Ravens last weekend and need to find another gear tomorrow. Uruguay are getting ready for one of the biggest matches in their history next weekend.
Los Teros will field close to a full strength side. Missing are three of their best players – second row Rodrigo Capó Ortega and World Cup halfbacks Agustin Ormaechea and Felipe Berchesi. The trio are still on club duty in France this weekend and will join the team in Vancouver on Monday. There are two France-based players available, however, with Franco Lamanna named on the blindside flank and promising lock Manuel Leindekar among the reserves after only arriving in camp mid-week.
Standing in for Capó Ortega is a more than capable replacement in Diego Magno, the most-capped Uruguayan player of all time. The hugely exciting Santiago Arata is at scrumhalf, and whether the more experienced Ormaechea would have been selected ahead of him will only be know next weekend. Arata is certain to earn a professional contract sooner than later. Germán Albanell will wear the No10 shirt in Berchesi’s stead, a player who proved himself in the 2017 Americas Rugby Championship.
Uruguayan rugby is known for its scrum and certainly with former Munster tighthead Mario Sagario leading the way their front row is formidable, while Ignacio Dotti is an underrated player at lock. Juan Manuel Gaminara captains from his usual openside position, built more like a hooker but very strong both in the contact area and over the ball at the tackle. Alejandro Nieto is a classic ball carrying No8 who rarely fails to make the gainline.
It’s in the backs where Los Teros have evolved, however. Rodrigo Silva is among the most talented fullbacks in the Americas and in 21-year-old midfielder Juan Manuel Cat they have a player of immense promise. There are a couple surprises that may be seen as trials of sorts. Joaquín Prada and Leandro Leivas are both World Cup veterans but have more recently been behind Andrés Vilaseca and Nicolás Freitas in the pecking order. That Uruguay now has the depth to choose between such players is a testament to their progress.
Houston have made three changes to the lineup that slipped up against the Ravens on Saturday. Diego Maquiera returns at hooker with Robert Meeson replacing Justin Allen at lock. The only alteration in the backs sees Malacchi Esdale restored on the right wing in place of Art Reyes who moves to an extended bench that features 10 reserves. Pago Haini continues at No8 in the absence of Matt Trouville.
In a pre-game media conference SaberCats Head Coach Justin Fitzpatrick expressed his delight at the unique opportunity for his charges to play an international side.
“They’re a talented international team that we have the greatest respect for and admiration. As a program we recognize the challenge that facing Uruguay presents to us. We acknowledge the exciting opportunity for both our players and the city of Houston that this offers up. It’s not every day that a club program gets to play an international side such as the Uruguayans. It provides some real spice to our inaugural exhibition series.”
At the same time Gaminara says he expects a strong challenge from the hosts.
“We are really looking forward to play some rugby tomorrow. We need it. Prior to playing against Canada in the two-leg Qualifier for the World Cup we need some minutes. The SaberCats is a perfect quality of rugby, they are a pro team. We are taking it very seriously. We know it will be a tough game.”
The SaberCats certainly offer an appropriate level of opposition ahead of next week’s match, though a convincing win for Los Teros is the only acceptable result from a Uruguayan perspective. Expect the scrum to be one-sided and likely the maul as well though the Cats do have a height advantage at the lineout. That said Uruguay won’t be confined to keeping the ball in tight, their style has evolved such that they can play expansive, attacking rugby when they choose to.
Despite a somewhat damp weather forecast for the evening fans can expect an entertaining match. A video stream will not be available but a live radio broadcast will be available on MIXLR.
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Jamie Dever, 2 Diego Maquiera, 3 Adam Macklin, 4 Robert Meeson, 5 Charlie Hewitt, 6 Kyle Sumsion (capt.), 7 Cecil Garber, 8 Pago Haini, 9 Connor Murphy, 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Josua Vici, 12 Conor Mills, 13 Osea Kolinisau, 14 Malacchi Esdale, 15 Zach Pangelinan
Replacements: 16 Lindsey Stevens, 17 Jack Riley, 18 Petey Hepburn, 19 Justin Allen, 20 Chris Parker, 21 Chris Slater, 22 Keiran Farmer, 23 Dan Paul, 24 Chris Milledge, 25 Esteban Florez
URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Germán Kessler, 3 Mario Sagario, 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Diego Magno, 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara (capt.), 7 Franco Lamanna, 8 Alejandro Nieto, 9 Santiago Arata, 10 Germán Albanell, 11 Leandro Leivas, 12 Joaquín Prada, 13 Juan Manuel Cat, 14 Gastón Mieres, 15 Rodrigo Silva
Replacements: 16 Matías Benitez, 17 Carlos Pombo, 18 Juan Echeverría, 19 Manuel Leindekar, 20 Rodolfo Garese, 21 Manuel Diana, 22 Nicolás Freitas, 23 Andrés Vilaseca
Date: Saturday, January 20
Venue: Constellation Field, Sugar Land
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Broadcasts: MIXLR (audio only)
