Test Match Preview – Brazil vs Spain

The world’s No24 Brazil will play host to the world’s No19 Spain for the first time on Saturday. The fixture is to be just the second time the teams have played a test match. With both being potential qualifiers for RWC 2023 it is likely that this fixture will become increasingly common in the coming years.

The one prior fixture was back in 2017 in Vilajoiosa, Spain. On that occasion Los Leones dominated, completing a 67-28 victory. With it the pressure is firmly on Brazil though Spain’s RWC 2023 disqualification places them under pressure to respond on tour in South America.

Brazil welcomes backs Major League Rugby players Arthur Bergo, and Josh Reeves from the Utah Warriors. Meanwhile regulars Moisés Duque, and Felipe Sancery are both back from injury with the former named on the bench.

Also boosting Brazil’s line-up, compared to that from the Sudamérica 6 Naciones are Matteo Dell’Acqua, Lorenzo Massari and the outstanding tight head prop Jardel Vettorato. Both Dell’Acqua, and Massari are back from Italy to face Spain.

Spain’s line-up features a reduced number of foreign-born and raised players. The tendency within the country is that this will continue during the cycle of RWC 2019-2023. Among those from outside of Spain set to face Brazil are Argentine players Ignacio Contardi, Federico Casteglioni and Fernando López.

With just the one prior match between the sides there is little comparisons to be made. In terms of the respective performances from both against other teams it is Spain which has the superior overall record.

Spain’s 19th place in the rankings comes following wins over European rivals including Romania, and Russia. Brazil has struggled thus far in 2019 making the match against Spain a great opportunity. The likely result, however, is a Spanish victory by 18 points.

The match will be broadcast live in Brazil on ESPN2.

BRAZIL
1 Lucas Abud, 2 Wilton Rebolo, 3 Jardel Vettorato, 4 Matteo Dell’Acqua, 5 Luiz Vieira, 6 Cléber Dias, 7 Arthur Bergo, 8 André Arruda, 9 Lucas Duque, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Daniel Lima, 12 De Wet van Niekerk, 13 Lorenzo Massari, 14 Lucas Tranquez, 15 Daniel Sancery (capt.)

Replacements: 16 Yan Rosetti, 17 João Talamini, 18 Matheus Rocha, 19 Gabriel Paganini, 20 Lucas Piero, 21 Laurent Bourda-Couhet, 22 Moisés Duque, 23 Robert Tenório

Spain
1 Fernando López (capt.), 2 Steve Barnes, 3 Alberto Blanco, 4 Manuel Mora, 5 Mike Walker-Fitton, 6 Victor Sánchez, 7 Oier Goer, 8 Afa Tauli, 9 Facundo Munilla, 10 David Méle, 11 Jordi Jorba, 12 Álvar Gimeno, 13 Ignacio Contardi, 14 Julen Goia, 15 Richard Stewart

Replacements: 16 Thierry Feuteu, 17 Vicente del Hoyo, 18 Mattius Pisapia, 19 Ien Ascroft-Leigh, 20 Michael Hogg, 21 Tomás Munilla, 22 Emiliano Calle Rivas, 23 Federico Casteglioni

Date: Saturday, June 7
Kick-Off: 7:30pm (Local), 12:30am (Spain)
Venue: Estádio José Liberatti, Osasco (Greater São Paulo)
Referee: Juan Pablo Federico (Argentina)