Test Match Preview – Chile vs Spain

In the second weekend of the June Internationals Chile play host to Spain. The capped test match will see two aspiring countries battling it out, both of whom have the dream of qualifying for RWC 2023.

Chile go into their second of two home June Internationals with a strong Cóndores side. The line-up is, without question, the strongest of 2019 to have been named by Pablo Lemoine. The French-based pairing of Ramón Ayarza, and Pablo Huerte add the bite to the team that was missing in the ARC.

The backs feature a line of dangerous runners including Julio Blanc who scored an excellent try last weekend against Romania.  Also starting will be notable names including Juan Pablo Larenas, and Santiago Videla.

Spain were winners last weekend and are looking to again be victorious against Chile. The line-up named is strong and will give Los Cóndores plenty to be worried about. N8 Afa Taula troubled Brazil greatly while David Mélé is a top name among the play-makers who will not be a part of RWC 2019.

There have been five prior test matches between Chile and Spain. The first time the countries met was in 1995 with Chile winning 28-23 in Santiago. Chile won the second test match 20-18 in 1999. Since then Spain has won all three games doing so by 30-25 in 2007, 26-3 in 2013, and 54-10 in 2015.

Of the five test matches all but the most recent took place in Chile. With this in mind Spain has a clear edge over Los Cóndores. Results in international competition in recent years also point to Los Leones being the superior outfit. Spain go into the match as favorites to win by 16 points.

 

TEAMS

CHILE
1 Ramón Ayarza, 2 Tomás Dussaillant, 3 Matías Dittus, 4 Pablo Huete, 5 Augusto Sarmiento, 6 Martín Sigrin (capt.), 7 Nicolás Garafulic, 8 Ignacio Silva, 9 Juan Pablo Larenas, 10 Santiago Videla, 11 Julio Blanc, 12 Iñaki Ayarza, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Lucca Avelli, 15 Christian Huerta

Replacements: 16 Augusto Bohme, 17 Mauricio Gómez, 18 Javier Carrasco, 19 Javier Eismann, 20 Clemente Saavedra, 21 Beltrán Vergara, 22 Vicente Ayarza, 23 José Ignacio Larenas

SPAIN
1 Fernando Lopez (capt.), 2 Vicente del Hoy, 3 Alberto Blanco, 4 Manuel Mora, 5  Michael Walker-Fitton, 6 Victor Sánchez, 7 Oier Goia, 8 Afa Taula, 9 Tomás Munilla, 10 David Mélé, 11 Silvio Casteglioni, 12 Alvar Gimeno, 13 Ignacio Contardi, 14 Julen Goia, 15 Richard Steward

Replacements: 16 Thierry Futeu, 17 Steve Barnes, 18 Mattius Pisapa, 19 Juan Pablo Guido, 20 Michael Hogg, 21 Facundo Munilla, 22 Marcos Puig, 23 Guillermo Domínguez

Date: Saturday June 15
Kick-Off: 4:30pm (Local)
Venue: Estadio La Granja, Curico
Referee: Santiago Romero (Uruguay)