ARC Preview – Chile vs Uruguay

Round 4 of the Americas Rugby Championship kicks off in Santiago on Saturday as Chile host Uruguay at the Estadio de La Pintana. It’s been a rough go for Los Cóndores, who have dropped all three of their matches thus far including last week’s match against the Eagles in Fullerton. Los Teros started the year in great form with three wins on the trot but dropped a tough contest to the Argentina XV in Maldonado.

Despite the one-sided scoreline Chile showed some improvement on attack in the USA. The scrum was a problem, however, and coach mark Cross has opted to change up his front row. Vittorio Lastra will switch to tighthead prop, as he did in the second half against the Eagles, with Sebastián Otero named in the run-on side for the first time at loosehead.

The only other change to the pack is significant as star flanker Anton Petrowitsch sees his first action of the 2018 ARC, replacing Alfonso Escobar in the starting lineup. Nicolás Garafulic is recalled in place of Thomas Orchard to cover lock or loose forward.

There are two changes in the backs. Promising halfback Domingo Saavedra swaps jerseys with Beltrán Vergara and Matías Balbontín returns on the right wing in place of Martín Raddatz. Veteran flyhalf Benjamín Pizarro is restored to the reserves list.

Uruguay have had mixed news during the week. Already deprived of their overseas professionals and scrumhalf Santiago Arata, Los Teros have lost Mario Sagario, Juan Manuel Gaminara, Alejandro Nieto, Gonzalo Soto, Carlos Pombo, Nicolás Freitas, and Juan Manuel Cat for at last this week.

They will enter the match with their third captain of the competition as Andrés Vilaseca wears the armband in the absence of Gaminara and Nieto. There are six personnel changes from the team that lost to the Argentina XV.

There is a boost in the front row with the return of first choice hooker Germán Kessler, who missed the match in Maldonado, and Diego Ayala is selected to add bulk in the second row. Juan Diego Ormaechea steps in for Nieto at No8.

Another return to action sees Leandro Leivas, a late scratch last weekend, restored on the right wing with Federico Favaro named on the left. Joaquín Prada starts a test in his preferred outside centre spot for the first time since May 2016.

Three players are named in a match day squad for the first time in 2018. Carlos Arboleya is set to win his 68th cap as a replacement hooker and Felipe Inciarte takes over from Sagario as backup tighthead prop. Los Ceibos lock Juan Manuel Etcheverry will make his test debut if summoned from the bench.

Both teams enter the match well short of their strongest lineup but Uruguay maintain a heavy advantage in experience. On form they will be considered decent favorites though they have a history of faltering in Santiago, losing there as recently as May 2015. The return of Petrowitsch should inspire Chile and ensure the match stays competitive. Los Teros will have to work hard to earn a bonus point if they have any hope to chasing the title and should have just enough talent available to get the job done.

CHILE
1 Sebastián Otero, 2 Tomás Dussaillant, 3 Vittorio Lastra, 4 Nikola Bursic, 5 Mario Mayol, 6 Javier Richard (capt.), 7 Anton Petrowitsch, 8 Benjamín Soto, 9 Domingo Saavedra, 10 José Tomás Baraona, 11 Ítalo Zunino, 12 Francisco de la Fuente, 13 Javier Lavanderos, 14 Matías Balbontín, 15 Tomás Ianiszewski

Replacements: 16 Rodrigo Moya, 17 Basilio Díaz, 18 Claudio Iturra, 19 Nicolás Garafulic, 20 Alfonso Escobar, 21 Beltrán Vergara, 22 Benjamín Pizarro, 23 Diego Ramírez

URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Germán Kessler, 3 Juan Echeverría, 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Diego Ayala, 6 Rodolfo Garese, 7 Manuel Diana, 8 Juan Diego Ormaechea, 9 Tomás Inciarte, 10 Germán Albanell, 11 Federico Favaro, 12 Andrés Vilaseca (capt.), 13 Joaquín Prada, 14 Leandro Leivas, 15 Rodrigo Silva

Replacements: 16 Matías Benítez, 17 Carlos Arboleya, 18 Felipe Inciarte, 19 Juan Manuel Etcheverry, 20 Diego Magno, 21 Andrés De León, 22 Gastón Mieres, 23 Manuel Blengio

Date: Saturday, February 24
Venue: Estadio de La Pintana, Santiago
Kickoff: 15:10 local (10:10 Pacific, 13:10 Eastern)
Referee: Henrique Platais (CBRu)
Broadcasts: TSN (Canada), ESPN3 (USA / South America), World Rugby (Stream)