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One of the classic South American rivalries takes a new twist on Saturday. At the Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo the Uruguay XV play host to Chile in a second match match in the inaugural Sudamericano 6 Naciones A.
The Uruguay XV did not have their finest afternoon of rugby last weekend against Colombia. While the came away with a 26-5 victory the performance was not up to the standards of Los Teros earlier this year.
Uruguay have named a stronger side from Medellín to face Chile on Saturday. Included are Diego Magno, Juan Echeverría, Nicolás Freitas, and Joaquín Prada. All four are professional players contracted to the URU. Despite their involvement the team officially is the Uruguay XV, Uruguay’s official ‘A’ side.
A total of eight changes have been made by the Uruguay XV. In the forwards Carlos Pombo replaces Facundo Gattas at hooker while Diego Magno comes in for Juan Diego Quintero in the second-row.
The six remaining alternations all come in the backs. At fly half German Albanell takes over from Andrés De León who drops to the bench. Albanell will have different centers to work with as Agustín Della Corte and Joaquín Prada will start with Marcos Pastore and Facundo Klappenbach missing out.
Outside Federico Favavo swaps wings, moving from the right wing to play left against Chile. As such Manuel Portela loses his place in the team. Playing right wing will be 2017 Jaguar Nicolás Freitas.
Chile drifted through their opening round match against Brazil. Their 28-12 defeat was the largest on record with Os Tupis barely being challenged by an underwhelming Chilean performance.
Head Coach Mark Cross has reacted by making seven changes, three of which come in the pack. In the front-row Tomás Dussaillant is back starting. The Old Boys hooker replaces Rodrigo Moya. The tight forwards are otherwise unchanged from São Paulo.
In the back-row Javier Richard is the one survivor. He will be joined by Alfonso Escobar and Benjamín Soto on Saturday. Escobar replaces Anton Petrowitsch who was forced off injured on the stroke of halftime last weekend. Soto slots into the place vacated by Ignacio Silva.
Cross is without his Los Cóndores 7’s players. This sees alterations to the backs. Among them is José Ignacio Larenas moving from outside center to replace Lucas Westcott on the right wing.
Starting at outside center will be Vicente Ayarza. While it is his first appearance for Los Cóndores it will not count as his test debut due to Uruguay XV not being Los Teros.
In the halves Cross has made a double change. Juan Pablo Perrota and Santiago Videla will start on Saturday, doing so in place of Beltrán Vergara and Rodrigo Fernández.
Chile and Uruguay have a history dating back decades. They have competed with regularity since the inaugural South American Championship in 1951. Over the years Uruguay has won 39 matches against Chile while Los Cóndores have won on 11 occasions.
Yet on Saturday it will not be a capped international. Uruguay’s depth will be tested greatly though given the relative rosters and form it is a match in which the Uruguay XV enter as favorites. The home side is expected to come away with a 10 point victory.
URUGUAY XV
15 Manuel Blengio, 14 Nicolás Freitas, 13 Joaquín Prada, 12 Agustín Della Corte, 11 Federico Favaro, 10 Germán Albanell, 9 Tomás Iniciarte, 8 Manuel Diana, 7 Juan Diego Ormaechea (capt.), 6 Leandro Segredo, 5 Diego Magno, 4 Gonzalo Soto Mera, 3 Felipe Iniciarte, 2 Carlos Pombo, 1 Matías Beñitez
Replacements: 16 Carlos Arboleya, 17 Guillermo Pujadas, 18 Juan Echeverría, 19 Diego Ayala, 20 Germán Kigel, 21 Matías Risso, 22 Andrés de León, 23 Juan Larrosa
CHILE
15 Tomás Ianiszewski, 14 José Ignacio Larenas, 13 Vicente Ayarza, 12 Francisco de la Fuente, 11 Lucca Avelli, 10 Santiago Videla, 9 Juan Pablo Perrotta, 8 Benjamín Soto, 7 Alfonso Escobar, 6 Javier Richard, 5 Mario Mayol, 4 Pablo Huete, 3 José Tomás Munita, 2 Rodrigo Moya, 1 Oliver Thompson
Replacements: 16 Salvador Lues, 17 Lucas Bordigioni, 18 Sebastián Otero, 19 Clemente Saavedra, 20 Martín Sigren, 21 Domingo Saavedra, 22 Nicolás Steinsapier, 23 Ítalo Zunino
Date: Saturday, May 12
Venue: Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo
Kickoff: 3pm local
Referee: Pablo Deluca (Argentina)
