SLAR Preview: Selknam vs Ceibos

The two winning sides from the first ever round of the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) were Selknam and Los Ceibos. The same two sides will battle-it-out in round two in Santiago del Chile on Saturday.

Selknam is ready to go for their debut home SLAR match. Head Coach Pablo Lemoine has rotated his side, making seven changes from the starting line-up that won against Peñarol in Montevideo.

Starting up front will be Iñaki Gurruchaga at loose head and Esteban Viale at tight head. The former will make his SLAR debut as too will Tongan John Ika who starts the match on the left wing.

Gurruchaga and Viale take over from Javier Carrasco and Matías Dittus from week one. Additional changes to the forwards see Mario Mayol coming in for Javier Eissmann in the second-row; Nicolás Garafulic replacing Martín Sigren at flanker; and one Argentine replacing another as Bautista Stavile takes over from Rodrigo Bruno at N8.

In the backs the MVP from Montevideo, Santiago Videla misses out. In his spot will be Ignacio Albornoz at fly half. John Ika replaces Julio Blanc on the left wing in the remaining alteration to the starting line-up.

Ignacio Fernández Lobbe has made one change from the side that defeated the Olímpia Lions. It comes in the backs with Agustín Segura named to start at outside center. This sees Tomás Cubical moving out one spot to play on the right wing in place of Martín Cancelliere.

On the bench there is also movement. Not involved in the match in Chile are replacement forwards from last week, Santiago Portillo and Conrado Roura. Their places in the team go to Jerónimo Ureta and Lucas Santa Cruz. Both Ureta and Santa Cruz have been regulars under Fernández Lobbe in the past.

Also missing out this week is Facundo Ferrario. Replacing him as the substitute mid-field and outside back replacement is Juan Pablo Castro.

Los Ceibos are the favored side to win the match. ARN projects a win to the Argentine franchise by 22 points.

TEAMS

SELKNAM
1 Iñaki Gurruchaga, 2 Tomas Dussaillant, 3 Esteban Viale, 4 Clemente Saavedra, 5 Mario Mayol, 6 Nicolás Garafulic, 7 Ignacio Silva (capt.), 8 Bautista Stavile, 9 Patricio Baronio, 10 Ignacio Albornoz, 11 John Ika, 12 Latiume Fosita, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Lucca Avelli, 15 Francisco Urroz

Replacements: 16 Augusto Böhme, 17 Vesi Rarawa, 18 Matías Dittus, 19 Rodrigo Bruno, 20 Tomás Orchard, 21 Martín Sigren, 22 Beltrán Vergara, 23 Matías Garafulic

CEIBOS
1 Federico Wegrzyn, 2 José Luis González, 3 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 4 Franco Molina, 5 Rodrigo Fernández Criado, 6 Lautaro Bavaro, 7 Santiago Ruiz, 8 Santiago Montagner, 9 Gonzalo García, 10 Martín Elías, 11 Facundo Cordero, 12 Lucas Mensa (capt.), 13 Agustín Segura, 14 Tomás Cubilla, 15 Juan Bautista Daireaux

Replacements: 16 Leonel Oveido, 17 Rodrigo Martínez, 18 Francisco Minervino, 19 Jerónimo Ureta, 20 Lucas Santa Cruz, 21 Ignacio Inchauspe, 22 Tomás Albornoz, 23 Juan Pablo Castro

Date: Saturday, March 14
Kick-Off: 5:00pm (Santiago), 6:00pm (Rio de la Plata)
Venue: Nacional de Chile, Santiago
Referee: Francisco González (Argentina)