Americas Pacific Challenge – Round 3 Preview

The 2021 Americas Pacific Challenge comes to a close after the third round of action on Saturday. All six teams will be in action with the tournament finale to decide this year’s champion.

All matches will take place at the Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo. A North American stream for the USA Selects game has yet to be confirmed. ESPN and Star Plus will broadcast in South America.

 

BRAZIL ‘A’ vs PARAGUAY ‘A’
Saturday, October 30, Estadio Charrúa
12:30 local (08:30 Pacific, 11:30 Eastern)

The Brazilians can make it two wins from three if they defeat a Paraguayan side reeling from a merciless beating at the hands of the Argentina XV. They have made just three personnel changes with two positional swaps to their run-on side.

Brendon Alves replaces his namesake Alexandre Alves at loosehead prop up front. Adrio de Melo moves to his preferred No8 spot with captain Matheus Cláudio switching to his Tupis position of openside flanker. It’s a 6-2 split on the bench with backup hooker Endy Willian wearing No23.

In the backs Felipe Cunha replaces Douglas Rauth at scrumhalf and Carlos Moura comes into the midfield in place of Joel Santos. Robson Morais slides to fullback with Daniel Lima at his more typical left wing spot.

For Paraguay there are seven changes with one replacement spot still to be confirmed. Martín Sitjar returns to captain at tighthead prop and hooker Luciano Weston makes his first start of the tournament. Mariano Garcete takes over from Alejandro Montiel at lock.

Elías Torres is back in at scrumhalf and it’s a completely re-built three quarter line. Tomás Mussi and Gianfranco Parodi partner in the midfield with Ignacio González and Marcelo Matiauda named on the wing. Alejandro Heyn retains his spot at fullback.

BRAZIL ‘A’
1 Brendon Alves, 2 Leonardo de Souza, 3 Henrique Ferreira, 4 Gabriel Paganini, 5 Kauã Guimarães, 6 Pedro Aparecido, 7 Matheus Cláudio (capt.), 8 Adrio de Melo, 9 Felipe Cunha, 10 Lucas Spago, 11 Daniel Lima, 12 Carlos Moura, 13 Gabriel Quirino, 14 Robert Tenório, 15 Robson Morais

Replacements: 16 Piero Pozzi, 17 Alexandre Alves, 18 Joel Ramírez, 19 Gabriel Oliveira, 20 David Müller, 21 Douglas Rauth, 22 Joel Santos, 23 Endy Willian

PARAGUAY ‘A’
1 Diego Caballero, 2 Luciano Weston, 3 Martín Sitjar (capt.), 4 Guillermo López, 5 Mariano Garcete, 6 Matías Benítez, 7 Ariel Nuñez, 8 Lautaro Britez, 9 Elías Torres, 10 Sebastián Urbieta, 11 Ignacio González, 12 Tomás Mussi, 13 Gianfranco Parodi, 14 Marcelo Matiauda, 15 Alejandro Heyn

Replacements: 16 AN Other, 17 Daniel Cabral, 18 César Pérez, 19 Juan José Agüero, 20 Nicolás Arias, 21 Gonzalo Villalba, 22 Arturo López, 23 Martín Samudio

Referee: Frank Méndez (Chile)
Assistants: Tomás Bertazza (Argentina) & Matías Esteban (Uruguay)
TMO: Francisco Pesce (Uruguay)

 

 

CHILE ‘A’ vs USA SELECTS
Saturday, October 30, Estadio Charrúa
15:30 local (11:30 Pacific, 14:30 Eastern)

A close battle against Uruguay ‘A’ leaves Chile ‘A’ with a 1-1 record. They will look to finish strongly against the USA Selects and have made two changes to their pack. Cóndores caps Salvador Lues and Raimundo Martínez both play unusual positions in loosehead prop and No8 respectively, while Agustín Pérez is recalled on the flank.

There is another surprise choice out wide as Tomas Álvarado, typically a flyhalf, starts in the No11 shirt. Gaspar Moltedo moves from the wing to inside center with Cristóbal Game recalled to the right wing. Second row Jaime Paredes joins a 6-2 bench.

After a disappointing showing in their first match against Brazil, the USA will look to rebound in their last opportunity. Mike Matarazzo starts at lock in the only change to the forward pack. Alex Lopeti is asked to provide cover at hooker with Joey Backe ruled out.

Junior All-American standout Sam Welsh gets the start at flyhalf while Eric Naposki, the first overall selection in the 2021 Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft, starts at fullback. Another draft pick, New England center Cael Hodgson, is named among the reserves.

CHILE ‘A’
1 Salvador Lues, 2 Diego Escobar, 3 Esteban Inostroza, 4 Agustín Fernández, 5 Santiago Pedrero, 6 Agustín Pérez, 7 Thomas Orchard, 8 Raimundo Martínez, 9 Lukas Carvallo (capt.), 10 Diego Warnken, 11 Tomás Álvarado, 12 Gaspar Moltedo, 13 Clemente Armstrong, 14 Cristóbal Game, 15 Luca Strabucchi

Replacements: 16 Jorge Delgado, 17 Mauricio Gómez, 18 Baltazar Gurruchaga, 19 Jaime Paredes, 20 Manuel Ripamonti, 21 Joaquín Milesi, 22 Benjamín Videla, 23 Juan Ignacio Piña

USA SELECTS
1 Ivan Pula, 2 George Sharpe, 3 Brian Nault, 4 Mike Matarazzo, 5 Ben Mitchell, 6 Justin Johnson, 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Kyle Breytenbach, 9 Sean Yacoubian, 10 Sam Walsh, 11 Harry Barlow, 12 Tia’i Vavao, 13 Jack Wendling, 14 Patrick Madden, 15 Eric Naposki

Replacements: 16 Alex Lopeti, 17 Jared Miller, 18 Elijah Hayes, 19 Charlie Hewitt, 20 Colin Turner, 21 Karl Keane, 22 Shane Barry, 23 Cael Hodgson

Referee: Matías Esteban (Uruguay)
Assistants: Tomás Bertazza (Argentina) & Frank Méndez (Chile)
TMO: Francisco González (Uruguay)

 

ARGENTINA XV vs URUGUAY ‘A’
Saturday, October 30, Estadio Charrúa
18:30 local (14:30 Pacific, 17:30 Eastern)

Only three changes are made to the Argentina XV after their 146-point performance against the Paraguayans. Nicolás Revol and Mariano Muntaner come in at loosehead prop and hooker respectively. Santiago Grondona drops out of the side with Joaquin Moro starting in his place on the flank.

There is an all-new front row trio in Nicolás Toth, Boris Wenger, and Gonzalo Hughes on the bench along with 20-year-old fullback Santiago Vera Feld. The winner of this match will finish undefeated and be declared champion of the tournament.

The Uruguayans have two wins from two but have opted to freshen up the lineup with seven changes from the lineup that beat Chile ‘A’. Santiago Bonasso and Faustino Etchegorry are the new props, with Lucas Piriz in at lock and Federico Dibueno on the flank.

Juan Zuccarino gets his first start at flyhalf with another new name at inside center in Santiago Gervaz. Ignacio Álvarez is handed the fullback spot with Baltazar Amaya pushing over to the wing.

ARGENTINA XV
1 Nicolás Revol, 2 Mariano Muntaner, 3 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 5 Rodrigo Fernández Criado, 6 Jerónimo Gómez Vara, 7 Joaquín Moro, 8 Conrado Roura, 9 Joaquín Pellandini, 10 Martín Elías, 11 Juan Pablo Castro, 12 Santiago Mare, 13 Tomás Cubilla (capt.), 14 Martín Bogado, 15 Gerónimo Prisciantelli

Replacements: 16 Boris Wenger, 17 Nicolás Toth, 18 Gonzalo Hughes, 19 Lucio Anconetani, 20 Bautista Pedemonte, 21 Rafael Iriarte, 22 Santiago Vera Feld, 23 Francisco Pisani Caride

URUGUAY ‘A’
1 Santiago Bonasso, 2 Guillermo Pujadas, 3 Faustino Etchegorry, 4 Lucas Piriz, 5 Juanjuan Garese (capt.), 6 Lucas Bianchi, 7 Federico Dibueno, 8 Carlos Deus, 9 Santiago Álvarez, 10 Juan Zuccarino, 11 Baltazar Amaya, 12 Santiago Gervaz, 13 Felipe Arcos Pérez, 14 Mateo Viñals, 15 Ignacio Álvarez

Replacements: 16 Emiliano Faccennini, 17 Ignacio Péculo, 18 Mateo Perillo, 19 Felipe Aliaga, 20 Sidney Werner, 21 Juan Diego Vilaro, 22 Santiago Percivale, 23 Bautista Basso

Referee: Cauã Ricardo (Brazil)
Assistants: Tomás Bertazza (Argentina) & Matías Esteban (Uruguay)
TMO: Francisco Pesce (Uruguay)