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The historic first meeting between Chile and Scotland takes place on Saturday, June 25. The match serves as a tune-up for Los Cóndores ahead of their historic Americas 2 World Cup Qualifier series against the USA that begins on July 9. It will be played at the Estadio Santa Laura in Santiago, the same venue as the Eagles test.
Though not a capped test match, Scotland ‘A’ are an official ‘next senior’ side and the match will be treated as a competitive fixture. For Scotland it is an opportunity for something new and preparation for their three test matches against Los Pumas starting on July 2 in Jujuy.
Chile’s recent resurgence have made the match possible. With the arrival of professional rugby in South America, Chile has improved remarkably since RWC 2019 when compared to the years of the prior RWC cycle. This is demonstrated by Chile eliminating Canada in the RWC 2023 qualifiers and defeating Russia in an away series in November, 2021.
Scotland ‘A’ is an excellent opportunity for Chile to test themselves. The players are jumping out of their skins at the opportunity of facing a permanent member of rugby’s elite. Indeed, the match will be the first time Chile have faced a representative side from a Six Nations country since the 1954 France XV tour of South America.
Pablo Lemoine’s Cóndores include four players based abroad. Clemente Saavedra, Iñaki Ayarza, Pablo Casas, and Ignacio Herreros joins Selknam players. The team is not at full-strength; national captain Martín Sigren will miss the match. In his place the team will be captained by Rodrigo Fernández from fly half.
Fernández is one of two play-makers in the backs. Francisco Urroz will play fullback and the the goal-kicker. Matías Garafulic will play on the left wing rather than inside center. This sees Iñaki Ayarza starting. He will be partnered by Pablo Casas while Selknam outside center, Domingo Saavedra is missing because of injury.
Vittorio Lastra will have an opportunity to start at tight head. He does so with Matías Dittus unavaliable. Lastra joins Selknam teammates and Cóndores veterans Tomás Dussaillant, and Vittorio Lastra in the front-row. Santiago Edwards starts in the vacancy left by Sigren.
Scotland are to be led by flanker Luke Crosbie. He leads the team in what is his second year involved in Scotland’s test team. He debuted against Tonga in 2021. He wil be joined by first choice N8 Matt Fagerson and the uncapped Ben Muncaster in the back-row.
Scotland ‘A’ have nominated Sione Tuipulotu as their vice-captain. The Australian has five caps for Scotland. Tuipulotu will play outside Ross Thompson while George Horne starts at scrum-half.
There is an opportunity outwide for Damien Hoyland. He last appeared for Scotland in 2017. He starts on the right wing while the uncapped duo of Matt Currie and Ollie Smith start at outside center and fullback respctively.
There is a wealth of experience in the form of replacement backs. Ali Price, Blair Kinghorn and Mark Bennett have, 106 caps between them. It is different for th forwards though as Magnus Bradbury has 18 caps, South African Pierre Schoeman has 9 while Johnny Matthews, Murphy Walker, and Glen Young are uncapped.
A strong attendance is expected. The match is in some ways a trial but in others it is a new beginning. Chile are a rapidly improving team and Los Cóndores have a strong opportnity at qualifying for the Rugby World Cup for the first time.
TEAMS
CHILE
1 Javier Carrasco, 2 Tomás Dussaillant, 3 Vittorio Lastra, 4 Santiago Pedrero, 5 Clemente Saavedra, 6 Santiago Edwards, 7 Ignacio Silva, 8 Alfonso Escobar, 9 Marcelo Torrealba, 10 Rodrigo Fernández (capt.), 11 Matías Garafulic, 12 Iñaki Ayarza, 13 Pablo Casas, 14 Nicolas Garafulic, 15 Francisco Urroz
Replacements: 16 Diego Escobar, 17 Salvador Lues, 18 Iñaki Gurruchaga, 19 Thomas Orchard, 20 Raimundo Martínez, 21 José Larenas, 22 Santiago Videla, 23 Ignacio Herreros
SCOTLAND ‘A’
1 Jamie Bhatti, 2 Dave Cherry, 3 Javan Sebastian, 4 Jamie Hodgson, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Ben Muncaster, 7 Luke Crosbie, 8 Matt Fagerson, 9 George Horne, 10 Ross Thompson, 11 Rufus McLean, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 13 Matt Currie, 14 Damien Hoyland, 15 Ollie Smith
Replacements: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Murphy Walker, 19 Glen Young, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 Ali Price, 22 Blair Kinghorn, 23 Mark Bennett
Date: Saturday, July 22
Kick-Off: 4:00pm (Santiago); 9:00pm (UK)
Venue: Estadio Santa Laura Universidad SEK, Santiago (CL)
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
Assistant Refeees: Francisco Gonzalez (Uruguay); Talal Chaudhry (Canada)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
HISTORIC RESULTS
N/A
