Americas Pacific Challenge Round 3 Preview

The 2018 Americas Pacific Challenge comes to a close on Sunday with three matches on the table in Montevideo. Four teams will be playing for pride with the winner to be determined, appropriately, in the final contest of the day between hosts Uruguay and the powerful Samoans.

All matches will be broadcast by FloRugby in the USA and World Rugby elsewhere.

 

TONGA ‘A’ vs CANADA ‘A’

The Tongans were competitive but ultimately outmatched against Samoa. They will fancy their chances against a Canadian side that has failed to fire in the APC. It’s all change to wrap things up for Tonga with nine personnel changes in the run-on side.

Solomone Kioa switches from hooker to loosehead prop with Maliu Ma’asi handed his first start of the tournament. Irwin Finau is recalled at lock and there is a new-look back row in Bruce Ikamanu, Taniela Atiola, and Haloti Tupou.

A new halfback combination starts in Sione Ta’ai and James Faiva. Sione Ika moves to the wing and the midfield combo is Paki Afu and Manase Folau. Alefosio Vahe shifts to the wing with Saia Fililava dropping back to fullback.

Canada will be without DJ Sears-Duru, Matt Heaton, Patrick Parfrey, and Clayton Meeres due to injury. Also unavailable is Conor Keys who has returned to Rotherham Titans in the UK. There are eight changes in all to the starting lineup.

Hubert Buydens, Ray Barkwill, and Cole Keith are the new front row with Paul Ciulini starting at lock. Lucas Rumball has recovered sufficiently from a knock against Argentina to take a spot on the flank and Luke Campbell returns at No8.

A shift in the backline sees Jordan Wilson-Ross move to the left wing and Doug Fraser starting at outside center. On the inside will be 50-test veteran Nick Blevins. Guiseppe du Toit and Brock Staller drop to the bench with 18-year-old Brock Webster named as reserve halfback.

TONGA ‘A’
1 Solomone Kioa (capt.), 2 Maliu Ma’asi, 3 Anthony Aholelei, 4 Irwin Finau, 5 Asaeli Lehauli, 6 Bruce Ikamanu, 7 Taniela Atiola, 8 Haloti Tupou, 9 Sione Ta’ai, 10 James Faiva, 11 Sione Ika, 12 Paki Afu, 13 Manase Folau, 14 Alefosio Vahe, 15 Saia Fililava

Replacements: 16 Paea Fono’ifua, 17 Sosaia Masima, 18 Kaho Tupou, 19 Vili Langi, 20 Tupou Ahome’e, 21 Tevita Hafoka, 22 To’osavili Havea, 23 Siosefa Finau

CANADA ‘A’
1 Hubert Buydens, 2 Ray Barkwill, 3 Cole Keith, 4 Paul Ciulini, 5 Mike Sheppard, 6 Kyle Baillie, 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Luke Campbell, 9 Phil Mack (capt.), 10 Gordon McRorie, 11 Jordan Wilson-Ross, 12 Nick Blevins, 13 Doug Fraser, 14 Kainoa Lloyd, 15 Theo Sauder

Replacements: 16 Eric Howard, 17 Noah Barker, 18 Ryan Kotlewski, 19 Travis Larsen, 20 Dustin Dobravsky, 21 Brock Webster, 22 Guiseppe du Toit, 23 Brock Staller

Date: Sunday, October 14
Venue: Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo
Kickoff: 11:00 local (07:00 Pacific, 10:00 Eastern)
Referee: Pali Deluca (UAR)
Broadcasts: World Rugby, FloRugby

 

ARGENTINA XV vs USA SELECT XV

It’s a bitter disappointment for Argentina miss out on a shot at a third consecutive title. They can still earn second place if they get a good result against the USA. Six changes are made, all but one in the forwards.

Lucas Favre steps in at tighthead prop with Ignacio Larrague recalled in the second row. The new-look back row trio is Rodrigo Bruni, captain Lautaro Bavaro, and Santiago Portillo. The only change in the backs sees Joaquín Díaz Bonilla start in the No10 shirt ahead of Domingo Miotti.

The USA has dropped both of their matches and has not looked great in doing so. Earning a win against a formidable Argentine selection will not be easy either but might be necessary to avoid the wooden spoon. Despite the loss to Uruguay only three changes are made to the first XV.

Hanco Germishuys is left out with Brendan Daly moving back to No8 and Matt Jensen handed a start in the second row. Nick Boyer replaces Devereaux Ferris at scrumhalf, and Mika Kruse gets a chance in the midfield at the expense of Anthony Salaber.

ARGENTINA XV
1 Franco Brarda, 2 Axel Zapata, 3 Lucas Favre, 4 Jerónimo Ureta, 5 Ignacio Larrague, 6 Rodrigo Bruni, 7 Lautaro Bavaro (capt.), 8 Santiago Portillo, 9 Luca Magnasco, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11 Facundo Cordero, 12 Lucas Mensa, 13 Agustín Segura, 14 Leopoldo Herrera, 15 Santiago Carreras

Replacements: 16 Gaspar Baldunciel, 17 Nicolás Solveyra, 18 Marco Ciccioli, 19 Francisco Gorrissen, 20 Santiago Grondona, 21 Gregorio Del Prete, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Matías Osadczuk

USA SELECT XV
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Alex Maughan, 3 John Hayden, 4 Matt Jensen, 5 Nate Brakeley, 6 Psalm Wooching, 7 Vili Toluta’u, 8 Brendan Daly, 9 Nick Boyer, 10 JP Eloff, 11 Ryan Matyas, 12 Dylan Audsley, 13 Mika Kruse, 14 Tim Maupin, 15 Conor Kearns (capt.)

Replacements: 16 Pat O’Toole, 17 Kelepi Fifita, 18 Cam Falcon, 19 Taylor Krumrei, 20 Thomas Robles, 21 Devereaux Ferris, 22 Anthony Salaber, 23 Zach Young

Date: Sunday, October 14
Venue: Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo
Kickoff: 13:30 local (09:30 Pacific, 12:30 Eastern)
Referee: Joaquín Montes (URU)
Broadcasts: World Rugby, FloRugby

 

URUGUAY ‘A’ vs SAMOA ‘A’

The tournament finale will act as a de facto final with the winner taking the spoils. Both teams enter undefeated. It’s Uruguay who enjoy a slight advantage having secured four-try bonus points in each of their matches.

There are six changes to the host side, four to freshen up the pack. Juan Echeverría starts at tighthead prop with Diego Magno recalled at lock. Leandro Segredo returns on the flank with Alejandro Nieto starting at No8. Prop Matías Benítez is named on the bench after being called up to replace Mario Sagario.

The backs show only two alterations. Rodrigo Silva starts at flyhalf with Andrés De León left out completely. At fullback there is a return for Gastón Mieres in place of Manuel Blengio who moves to the bench. The three-quarter line remains intact.

Samoa liked the look of their team that beat the Tongans and have made just a single change to the starting side with Brook To’omalatai replacing Rodney Tapu at tighthead prop. Harry Luteru is added to the reserves in place of Ivan Safua as midfield cover.

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 Matías Benítez, 19 Diego Ayala, 20 Manuel Diana, 21 Joaquín Alonso, 22 Manuel Blengio, 23 Tomás Inciarte

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

Replacements: 16 Leo Brown, 17 Rodney Tapu, 18 Tuaniu Tuaniu, 19 Elia Togitele, 20 Fagu Malloy, 21 Danny Tusitala, 22 Harry Luteru, 23 Paulo Scanlan

Date: Sunday, October 14
Venue: Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo
Kickoff: 16:00 local (12:00 Pacific, 15:00 Eastern)
Referee: Derek Summers (USAR)
Broadcasts: World Rugby, FloRugby