Americas Pacific Challenge Round 1 Preview

The 2018 Americas Pacific Challenge opens on Saturday with six senior ‘A’ teams on show at the Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo. Each team has taken a different approach for the competition with Uruguay and Canada sending their strongest available sides while others have sent traditional development sides.

Argentina are undefeated in the competition having won all three matches in each of 2016 and 2017. They enter as favorites but have arguably the most difficult schedule of any this year. Hosts Uruguay will fancy their chances and the tournament could well come down to bonus points or even points differential.

FloRugby will broadcast in the USA with World Rugby providing a live stream to other viewers worldwide.

 

ARGENTINA XV vs SAMOA ‘A’

The opening match sees the defending champions up against a dangerous Samoan side that contains quality at key positions. Afa Aiono’s conversion to the front row is complete with the former Manu Samoa flanker leading the side wearing No2. Bruce Kaino is named on the blindside in a potent back row trio that also contains highly rated Jacob Mapu at openside and the imposing Potu Leavasa at No8.

There will be right and left-footed kicking options in Patrick Fa’apale and D’Angelo Leuila who line up at flyhalf and inside center respectively. Both are fully capped test veterans with Samoa Sevens standout Alefosio Tapili a dominant ball carrier at outside center.

Argentina run out an experienced team with few experiments. Ignacio Larrague is a towering presence in the second row and the back row particularly formidable. Lautaro Bavaro continues as captain with in-form Belgrano star Francisco Gorrissen on the other flank and San Luis powerhouse Rodrigo Bruni at No8.

Gregorio del Prete is the only capped player in the side and he partners Jaguares rep Joaquín Díaz Bonilla in the halfbacks. A surprise selection sees Pumas Sevens star Matías Osadczuk named at outside center and rising talent Juan Bautista Daireaux is a creative attacker at fullback.

ARGENTINA XV
1 Nicolás Solveyra, 2 Gaspar Baldunciel, 3 Marco Ciccioli, 4 Santiago Portillo, 5 Ignacio Larrague, 6 Francisco Gorrissen, 7 Lautaro Bavaro (capt.), 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 9 Gregorio del Prete, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11 Federico Giménez, 12 Lucas Mensa, 13 Matías Osadczuk, 14 Leopoldo Herrera, 15 Juan Bautista Daireaux

Replacements: 16 Axel Zapata, 17 Franco Brarda, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Lucas Paulos, 20 Nicolás Sbrocco, 21 Luca Magnasco, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Santiago Carreras

SAMOA ‘A’
1 Setu Enoka, 2 Afa Aiono (capt.), 3 Rodney Tapu, 4 Mikaele Tapili, 5 Ikifusi Matamu, 6 Bruce Kaino, 7 Jacob Mapu, 8 Potu Leavasa Jr., 9 Ionatana Tino, 10 Patrick Fa’apale, 11 Measala Seamalo, 12 D’Angelo Leuila, 13 Alefosio Tapili, 14 Johnny Samuelu, 15 Johnny Vaili

Replacements: 16 Leo Brown, 17 Brook To’omalatai, 18 Tuaniu Tuaniu, 19 Elia Togitele, 20 Joseph Fuimaono, 21 Danny Tusitala, 22 Ivan Safua, 23 Paulo Scanlan

Date: Saturday, October 6
Venue: Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo
Kickoff: 11:00 local (07:00 Pacific, 10:00 Eastern)
Referee: Shuhei Kubo (JRFU)
Assistants: Joaquín Montes (URU) & Martín Bangueses (URU)
Broadcasts: World Rugby, FloRugby

 

TONGA ‘A’ vs USA SELECT XV

The Tongans field a largely unknown side with only a handful of returning players. Versatile front rower Solomone Kioa leads the side at hooker and second row Irwin Finau is a powerful ball carrying presence. Paki Afu is fresh off a season with the Utah Warriors in Major League Rugby and forms a potent midfield combination with Australia-based James Faiva.

Conor Kearns is tabbed to captain the USA side that contains several capped Eagles. Nate Brakeley returns to international contention in the second row as does Psalm Wooching in the back row. A surprise comes in the form of SFGG lock Brendan Daly at No8, with the destructive Hanco Germishuys at openside flank.

Glendale breakout star Mika Kruse will play on the wing outside an interesting midfield combination. Anthony Salaber will play inside center with Dylan Audsley outside him. The bench contains former Connacht hooker Pat O’Toole and Life West scrumhalf Devereaux Ferris.

TONGA ‘A’
1 George Tu’ineau, 2 Solomone Kioa (capt.), 3 Anthony Aholelei, 4 Irwin Finau, 5 Asaeli Lehauli, 6 Tevita Hafoka, 7 Haloti Tupou, 8 Takao Cocker, 9 Sione Ika, 10 Saia Fililava, 11 Manase Folau, 12 Paki Afu, 13 James Faiva, 14 Petelesio Sili, 15 Alefosio Vahe

Replacements: 16 Maliu Ma’asi, 17 Paea Fono’ifua, 18 Sosaia Masima, 19 Vili Langi, 20 Bruce Ikamanu, 21 Sione Ta’ai, 22 Sione Lave, 23 Sefa Finau

USA SELECT XV
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Alex Maughan, 3 John Hayden, 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Taylor Krumrei, 6 Psalm Wooching, 7 Hanco Germishuys, 8 Brendan Daly, 9 Nick Boyer, 10 Conor Kearns (capt.), 11 Mika Kruse, 12 Anthony Salaber, 13 Dylan Audsley, 14 Tim Maupin, 15 Mitch Wilson

Replacements: 16 Pat O’Toole, 17 Kelepi Fifita, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Matt Jensen, 20 Vili Toluta’u, 21 Devereaux Ferris, 22 JP Eloff, 23 Ryan Matyas

Date: Saturday, October 6
Venue: Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo
Kickoff: 13:30 local (09:30 Pacific, 12:30 Eastern)
Referee: Pali Deluca (ARU)
Assistants: Santiago Romero (URU) & Gonzalo Ventoso (URU)
Broadcasts: World Rugby, FloRugby

 

URUGUAY ‘A’ vs CANADA ‘A’

A match that could easily pass as an Americas Rugby Championship test will close out the day. Hosts Uruguay have named a vastly experienced side that is led by Teros captain Juan Manuel Gaminara. The tight five will test Canada’s scrum and abrasive flanker Leandro Segredo looks to secure his ticket to Japan.

Santiago Arata is the danger man at scrumhalf with talented footballer Rodrigo Silva asked to play flyhalf. It’s an all-World Cup midfield in Andrés Vilaseca and Joaquín Prada. On the bench there are interesting choices in Teritos flanker Manuel Ardao as a reserve hooker, sevens standout Joaquín Alonso as backup halfback, and Teros scrumhalf Tomás Inciarte covering the midfield.

Canada are preparing for the Repechage tournament and have named a similarly strong side with 18-year-old Brock Webster the only uncapped player in the match day squad. Phil Mack is named captain with Patrick Parfrey wearing the No10 shirt and Theo Sauder handed a run at fullback.

Kyle Baillie fills in at lock with Lucas Rumball and Matt Heaton lining up on the flanks. Veteran Ray Barkwill is the starting hooker with Noah Barker and Cole Keith looking to earn their place in the November test squad. NOLA Gold duo Eric Howard and Hubert Buydens wait from the bench.

URUGUAY ‘A’
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Germán Kessler, 3 Juan Echeverría, 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Diego Magno, 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara (capt.), 7 Leandro Segredo, 8 Alejandro Nieto, 9 Santiago Arata, 10 Rodrigo Silva, 11 Federico Favaro, 12 Andrés Vilaseca, 13 Joaquín Prada, 14 Leandro Leivas, 15 Gastón Mieres

Replacements: 16 Manuel Ardao, 17 Guillermo Pujadas, 18 Juan Rombys, 19 Diego Ayala, 20 Manuel Diana, 21 Joaquín Alonso, 22 Andrés De León, 23 Tomás Inciarte

CANADA ‘A’
1 Noah Barker, 2 Ray Barkwill, 3 Cole Keith, 4 Paul Ciulini, 5 Kyle Baillie, 6 Lucas Rumball, 7 Matt Heaton, 8 Luke Campbell, 9 Phil Mack (capt.), 10 Patrick Parfrey, 11 Brock Staller, 12 Guiseppe du Toit, 13 Doug Fraser, 14 Kainoa Lloyd, 15 Theo Sauder

Replacements: 16 Eric Howard, 17 Hubert Buydens, 18 Ryan Kotlewski, 19 Conor Keys, 20 Dustin Dobravsky, 21 Gordon McRorie, 22 Jordan Wilson-Ross, 23 Brock Webster

Date: Saturday, October 6
Venue: Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo
Kickoff: 16:00 local (12:00 Pacific, 15:00 Eastern)
Referee: Derek Summers (USAR)
Assistants: Joaquín Montes (URU) & Martín Bangueses (URU)
Broadcasts: World Rugby, FloRugby