World Cup Qualifying Watch – Brazil – May 12, 2021

Brazil’s preparations for the RWC 2023 qualifiers started in 2020. They took two forms. First, the South American 4 Nations wherein Brazil played as the Brazil XV. Second, Brazil’s tour to Portugal in late 2020. In 2021 they took on a third form – the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR).

Brazil’s SLAR entrant, Os Cobras Brasil XV was very close to Brazil’s test side. The roster was predominantly Brazilian with six Argentine players making up the numbers. The same players are to claim virtually all of the places in Brazil’s team to face against Paraguay in the RWC 2023 qualifiers. In the event that Brazil win and advance to face Uruguay and either Chile or Colombia then the projected roster would not change.

Os Cobras will thereby be the bulk of Brazil’s test side; however, there are names from outside of Brazil who are in the frame for selection. Those players come in two forms. First, the Italian-based Lorenzo Massari and Matteo Dell’Acqua. Second, MLR’s Wilton Rebolo. All three names held down starting positions in 2000.

ARN can confirm that the trio of Massari, Dell’Acqua, and Rebolo will all be made available for the RWC 2023 qualifiers. This is a significant boost to Os Tupis. One further name needs to be confirmed as free to face Paraguay. That player is Jardel Vettorato. Unlike, the three aforementioned names, he lives in Brazil. He works for the Brazilian Federal Police. Efforts are being made to make him available for international duty.

 

BRAZIL

##

NAME

CLUB

POS

CAPS

FIRST XV

1	Caique Silva	Cobras	LH	26
2	Yan Rosetti	Cobras	HK	38
3	Wilton Rebolo	RUNY (U.S.)	TH/HK	30
4	Gabriel Paganini	Cobras	LO	23
5	Matteo Dell’Acqua	ValoRugby (IT)	LO	6
6	Cléber Dias	Cobras	FL/LO	33
7	Matheus Cláudio	Cobras	FL	4
8	André Arruda	Cobras	N8	31
9	Felipe Cunha	Cobras	SH	3
10	Joshua Reeves	Cobras	FH	27
11	Daniel Lima	Cobras	WI	8
12	Moisés Duque	Cobras	CE/FH	57
13	Felipe Sancery (capt.)	Cobras	CE	37
14	Lorenzo Massari	Colorno (IT)	WI/CE	8
15	Daniel Sancery	Cobras	FB	34

The projected starting XV is dominanted by Cobras. This is as expected. SLAR form was the leading variant to project who will start for Brazil. Thirteen of the starting men are Cobras. There are few doubts surrounding the back formation with more looming questions up front.

Like the SLAR side, Felipe Sancery will lead the team from outside center. He will partern Moisés Duque in the mid-field and have Daniel Lima, and Daniel Sancery outside them. The Italian-based Lorenzo Massari looms as completing the back-three.

Joshua Reeves was overtaken by Lucas Spago in 2020. However, in SLAR 2021 the New Zealander was the firm starter for Os Cobras. He is projected to play at pivot outside Felipe Cunha. Cunha is one of three names competing for the starting scrum-half spot. Of them he goes into the test season as the likely starter.

Caique Silva is projected to start ahead of Lucas Abud at loose head prop. Similarly, Yan Rosetti is the probable starting hooker. These two selections contribute to Wilton Rebolo likely being named at tight head prop rather than at hooker. This would mean a powerful set of replacements front-rowers.

The second-row is another area of debate. There are three men who should all start on merit. They are Matteo Dell’Acqua, Cléber Dias and Gabriel Paganini. ARN projects this to be handled with Días playing at flanker. He has played regularly in the position in the past, including for Os Cobras.

With Días at flanker there would also be room for two replacement back-rowers, a strategy favored by Brazil in the past. André Arruda is the clear starter at N8, and likely the first name to make the side. He was the best Brazilian player in SLAR. Matheus Cláudio continues to perform well and appears well-placed to start at flanker.

 

REPLACEMENTS

16	Endy Willian	Cobras	HK	7
17	Lucas Abud	Cobras	LH	42
18	Jardel Vettorato	Cobras	TH	34
19	Adrio de Melo	Cobras	FL	2
20	Arthur Bergo	Cobras	FL	26
21	Douglas Rauth	Cobras	SH	3
22	Lucas Spago	Cobras	FH	1
23	Robert Tenorio	Cobras	WI	20

The replacements are all SLAR players. They are also all cappped. Abud and Vettorato provide the team with excellent cover at prop. Arthur Bergo is a former Utah Warrior while Douglas Rauth and Lucas Spago both have long careers ahead of them. Robert Tenorio will cover 11-15.

ROSTER RESERVES

24	Matheus Rocha	Cobras	TH	12
25	Laurent Bourda-Couhet	Cobras	SH	24
26	Lucas Tranquez	Cobras	WI/FB	37

There will be more than 23 players on the roster. The final number remains unconfirmed. 26 players is a potential minimum number and, as such, this number has been used to reflect the additional players who may be most likely to receive game time. The three named players could all start; if so it would not come as a surprise. Matheus Rocha, Laurent Bourda-Couhet and Lucas Tranquez are all proven performers.

 

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