Match Preview – Brazil vs Māori All Blacks

The Māori All Blacks will begin the historic South American leg of their three-match tour in Sao Paulo, where they face off with Brazil at the Estádio do Morumbi. It is unlikely that the 67,000 seat stadium will sell out but with roughly half already spoken for it promises to be a landmark evening for Brazilian rugby.

In hoping to maximize exposure the Brazilian Rugby Union (CBRu) has reached an agreement with social media giant Twitter to provide a live stream. With both sides keen on playing expansive rugby the result is surely secondary to the spectacle itself.

Os Tupis have cast their net far and wide, naming their strongest possible lineup with only one exception. First choice hooker and captain Yan Rosetti misses out with injury so heavyweight prop Wilton Rebolo will fill in, one of eight players in the run-on side who participated in the Rugby Americas Combine two weeks ago. Endy Willian provides specialist cover from the bench.

Luiz ‘Monstro’ Vieira arrives from France to add bulk in the second row, where he packs down beside a beefed-up Cléber Dias. A second overseas professional is named on the bench in uncapped Matteo Dell’Acqua. The 27-year-old former Italy u20 representative is an abrasive lock or loose forward who brings much-needed muscle to the squad.

There is another newcomer named at openside flank. Devon Muller is yet to make his test debut. At 21 he is the youngest player in the starting lineup, a former Natal age-grade standout who qualifies on ancestry and has lived in Brazil for the past two years.

Felipe Sancery leads the side out in the absence of Rosetti, with twin brother Daniel in his usual fullback spot. Brazil’s favorite sons – the Duque brothers – are both included in the backline, ‘Tanque’ at scrumhalf and Moises at inside center. New Zealand export Josh Reeves pulls the strings from flyhalf with a move to the Utah Warriors and Major League Rugby pending upon completion of his Brazil obligations.

The Māori had little trouble with the Eagles at Soldier Field and will expect another handsome victory in Brazil. Bolstering the squad are four All Black tourists who arrive from Japan – Tyrel Lomax, Jackson Hemopo, Bryn Hall, and Matt Proctor. Of those only Hall did not appear in the test match against the Brave Blossoms.

Marcel Renata starts at tighthead prop as Ben May switches to loosehead, one of four changes to the starting XV. Pari Pari Parkinson retains his place despite his body slam against Shaun Davies in Chicago, with Billy Harmon replacing Mitchell Karpik at openside flank in the only other change to the pack.

There is a new scrumhalf in Jonathan Ruru, with Brad Weber rested, and Matt Lansdown replaces Regan Ware in the starting lineup. Lansdown lines up at fullback with Shaun Stevenson shifting to the left wing. Robbie Abel is bracketed with Ross Wright as reserve hooker, a decision to be made on game day.

Expect the Māori to outclass their South American opponents but in such an iconic venue and with a record crowd expected, the Tupis will play above themselves and may hold the gap within a couple scores until the second half. Regardless of the outcome Brazilian rugby can only win from such a match, and with the average age of the Tupis only 26 the team itself will benefit for years to come.

BRAZIL
1 Lucas Abud, 2 Wilton Rebolo, 3 Jardel Vettorato, 4 Luiz Vieira, 5 Cléber Dias, 6 Arthur Bergo, 7 Devon Müller, 8 André Arruda, 9 Lucas Duque, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Robert Tenório, 12 Moisés Duque, 13 Felipe Sancery (capt.), 14 Lucas Tranquez, 15 Daniel Sancery

Replacements: 16 Caíque Silva, 17 Endy Willian, 18 Matheus Rocha, 19 Matteo Dell’Acqua, 20 Michael Moraes, 21 Douglas Rauth, 22 De Wet van Niekerk, 23 Stefano Giantorno

MᾹORI ALL BLACKS
1 Ben May, 2 Ash Dixon (capt.), 3 Marcel Renata, 4 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 5 Pari Pari Parkinson, 6 Reed Prinsep, 7 Billy Harmon, 8 Akira Ioane, 9 Jonathan Ruru, 10 Otere Black, 11 Shaun Stevenson, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 13 Rob Thompson, 14 Jonah Lowe, 15 Matt Lansdown

Replacements: 16 Robbie Abel / Ross Wright, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Jackson Hemopo, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Matt Proctor

Date: Saturday, November 10
Kick-Off: 19:00 local (13:00 Pacific, 16:00 Eastern)
Venue: Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo
Referee: Federico Anselmi (UAR)
Assistants: Joaquín Montes (URU) & Francisco González (URU)
TMO: Santiago Borsani (UAR)
Broadcasts: Twitter, SporTV, SkyNZ