Super Rugby Americas 2023 – Selknam vs Peñarol – ARN Guide

After a hiccup last weekend, Selknam are at home and ready for improvement. The Chileans take-on the undefeated Peñarol in a battle which has delivered classics in South American professional rugby. Dubbed El Clasico, the battle is the match of the round in Super Rugby Americas 2023.

Selknam went into last Saturday’s match expecting to win. A fired-up Cobras ended their winless start to Super Rugby Americas 2023 with a 30-24 home victory. Selknam’s team was heavily rotated for that match. While changes have been made to face Peñarol the side continues to have experimental elements to it.

There is a double change at prop. Viña Old Boys tight head Lucas Bordigoni joins veteran Javier Carrasco and hooker Diego Escobar up front. Javier Eissmann replaces Pablo Huete in the second-row while the back-row is unchanged.

Matías Garafulic retains the captaincy but continues to move around the back-line. He will play left wing against Peñarol. This sees a first start for Domingo Saavedra in a year. The center has a prime opportunity to push for a return to being Chile’s first-choice outside center.

Garafulic will be joined by Clemente Armstrong and Francisco Urroz in the back-three. Gaspar Molteo and Luca Strabucchi miss out while with Urroz back at fullback Rodrigo Fernández returns to play fly half.

Peñarol also have a changed line-up. Captain Manuel Ardao was one of three opening quarter casualties against Yacare. Indeed, despite completing an impressive win the Uruguayans were on the back foot with the replacements bench emptied early.

Carlos Deus moves from one flank to the other in place of Ardao. Lucas Bianchi is elevated from the replacements to start with Manuel Diana retained at N8. The front-row is unchanged but injuries to Ignacio Dotti and Eric Dosantos see a double change in the engine room. Felipe Aliaga and Agustín Morales take-over. Uruguay need more second-rowers, meaning that Morales will have an opportunity of note.

There is just one change in the backs. Juan Manuel Alonso makes way for Alfonso Silva on the left wing. What is different is that Felipe Etcheverry will captain the side. His battle with Rodrigo Fernández is eagerly awaited. Former Selknam fly half Juan Andrés Zuccarino starts outside Etcheverry to give Peñarol two play-makers.

The line-ups demonstrate a crowding of players competing for places on Uruguay and Chile’s rosters for Rugby World Cup 2023. The tournament is the big picture; yet, players are in need of demonstrating that they merit selection.

Selknam enter in third position but need a win to ensure that they remain in the play-off’s zone. Both Yacare and Los Pampas can overtake Selknam this weekend. Beating Peñarol would hand the Uruguayans a first loss of the season. Regardless, the table is far from stable with competition points already appearing vital.

 

TEAMS

SELKNAM
1 Javier Carrasco, 2 Diego Escobar, 3 Lucas Bordigoni, 4 Santiago Pedrero, 5 Javier Eissmann, 6 Raimundo Martínez, 7 Thomas Orchard, 8 Ernesto Tchimino, 9 Lukas Carvallo, 10 Rodrigo Fernández, 11 Matías Garafulic (capt.), 12 José Ignacio Larenas, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Clemente Armstrong, 15 Francisco Urroz

Replacements: 16 Tomás Dussaillant, 17 Salvador Lues, 18 Vittorio Lastra, 19 Pablo Huete, 20 Jorge Delgado, 21 Benjamín Videla, 22 Pablo Casas, 23 Clemente Saavedra

PENAROL
1 Matías Benítez, 2 Guillermo Pujadas, 3 Ignacio Peculo, 4 Felipe Aliaga, 5 Agustín Morales, 6 Carlos Deus, 7 Lucas Bianchi, 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Santiago Álvarez, 10 Felipe Etcheverry (capt.), 11 Alfonso Silva, 12 Juan Andrés Zuccarino, 13 Tomás Inciarte, 14 Gastón Mieres, 15 Rodrigo Silva

Replacements: 16 Emiliano Faccennini, 17 Mateo Perillo, 18 Diego Arbelo, 19 Juan Manuel Rodríguez, 20 Manuel Rosmarino, 21 Juan Francisco Torres, 22 Guillermo Juan Storace, 23 Santiago del Cerro

Date: Friday, March 24
Kick-Off: 8pm (CL); 7pm (UY)
Venue: La Pintana, Santiago (CL)
Referee: Pablo Deluca (AR)
Assistant Referees: Luca Solda (AR); Raimundo Fuenzalida (CL)
TMO: Ignacio Calle (CL)

HISTORIC RESULTS
May 27, 2022 – Peñarol 24-13 Selknam (Montevideo, UY)
May 15, 2022 – Peñarol 08-15 Selknam (Montevideo, UY)
April 08, 2022 – Peñarol 31-03 Selknam (Ciudad del Este, PY)
May 08, 2021 – Peñarol 17, Selknam 14 (Montevideo, UY)
April 26, 2021 – Peñarol 17-27 Selknam (Montevideo, UY)
March 30, 2021 – Selknam 22-26 Peñarol (Santiago, CL)
March 04, 2020 – Peñarol 13-14 Selknam (Montevideo, UY)