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Two unbeaten sides will kick off Round 2 of the Americas Rugby Championship on Friday evening when Uruguay travel to São Paulo to play Brazil. Os Tupis have won their last four matches at their spiritual home of the Estádio do Pacaembu which includes notable wins against Canada and Portugal.
It’s been more than 50 years, however, since Brazil overturned Uruguay in a test match at any venue, a remarkable statistic given they have also beaten the USA just two years ago.
On the back of their first ever test win on Chilean soil the Tupis have made only one change to the run-on side. Long-striding youngster Robert Tenório replaces Lucas Muller on the right wing. Lucas Tranquez is fit to resume at fullback after being stretchered off as a precaution against the Cóndores.
The replacements bench sees a recall for Curitiba hooker Endy Willian in place of Angelo Marcucci, and flanker Michael Moraes takes over from Diego López, leaving Cléber Dias as lock cover. Muller fills up the vacancy left by Tenório’s promotion.
Los Teros meanwhile have seen their overseas professionals depart after clinching a series win over Canada. Also left out are first choice backs Nicolás Freitas, Andrés Vilaseca, and Leandro Leivas.
Two changes to the pack sees Diego Magno return in the second row and Rodolfo Garese starting on the blindside flank. Magno’s MVCC lock partner Diego Ayala is named in the reserves along with loose forwards Manuel Diana and Gonzalo Soto as the Teros opt for a 6-2 split.
With Santiago Arata out with a shoulder injury Germán Albanell is named as at scrumhalf for the first time in five years. Outside him there is a test debut for Old Christians goal kicker Andrés De León, one of the form players from the Campeonato Uruguayo.
Teritos captain Agustín Della Corte starts in the midfield with Gastón Mieres and Joaquín Prada named on the wings. Manuel Blengio takes a spot on the bench after a year away from the Teros match day squad and 21-year-old outside back Tomás Inciarte is set to make his test debut as a replacement.
Brazil enter the match with renewed confidence after their historic win in Santiago and feature a settled side in their favored home venue. They can be expected to put up a fight against a depleted Uruguay but even absent half the side that beat Canada the visitors should prove a formidable opponent with enough experience to stop the Tupis in São Paulo.
BRAZIL
1 Lucas Abud, 2 Yan Rosetti (capt.), 3 Jardel Vettorato, 4 Gabriel Paganini, 5 Lucas Piero, 6 Arthur Bergo, 7 Cléber Dias, 8 André Arruda, 9 Laurent Bourda-Couhet, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 De Wet van Niekerk, 12 Moisés Duque, 13 Felipe Sancery, 14 Robert Tenório, 15 Lucas Tranquez
Replacements: 16 Endy Willian, 17 Michel Gomes, 18 Wilton Rebolo, 19 Michael Moraes, 20 Matheus Daniel, 21 Will Broderick, 22 Lucas Muller, 23 Ariel Rodrigues
URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Germán Kessler, 3 Mario Sagario, 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Diego Magno, 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara (capt.), 7 Rodolfo Garese, 8 Alejandro Nieto, 9 Germán Albanell, 10 Andrés De León, 11 Gastón Mieres, 12 Agustín Della Corte, 13 Juan Manuel Cat, 14 Joaquín Prada, 15 Rodrigo Silva
Replacements: 16 Matías Benítez, 17 Carlos Pombo, 18 Juan Echeverría, 19 Diego Ayala, 20 Manuel Diana, 21 Gonzalo Soto, 22 Tomás Inciarte, 23 Manuel Blengio
Date: Friday, February 9
Venue: Estádio do Pacaembu, São Paulo
Kickoff: 20:00 local (19:00 Montevideo, 17:00 Eastern, 14:00 Pacific)
Referee: Federico Anselmi (UAR)
Assistants: Murilo Bragotto (CBRu) & Cauã Ricardo (CBRu)
TMO: Xavier Vouga (CBRu)
Broadcasts: TSN2 (Canada), ESPN 3 (South America), Brazil Rugby TV (Stream)
