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Infinity Park will be the setting for Sunday’s Super Rugby Americas fixture. The American Raptors play host to Los Pampas from Buenos Aires, Argentina. The teams met early last month in Buenos Aires. In a dog-fight of a contest, Los Pampas held on to complete a 27-16 win.
The fortunes of the two teams have changed since their previous battle. Los Pampas are now in the play-off’s frame while the Raptors have been competitive yet somehow have been unable to find the winning formula.
Changes to the line-up to face Los Pampas see alterations in a number of positions. Three instances see Lucas González Amorosino makes way for Patrick Madden at fly half, Will Crawford, starting in the second-row, with Diego Magno moving to flanker, and Ronan Murphy starting at N8.
The line-up contains a lot in attack. Watson Filikitonga, and Dominick Iacovino can both burst open defenses while Ramiro Moyano is a proven finisher in his 36 caps for Argentina. Line Latu and Ryan James join Moyano in an aggressive back-three.
The real question is not the attack; rather, it is how will the team defend. Prior home matches saw the Raptos scoring some impressive tries; yet, Los Dogos and Os Cobras both punished the defensive line, particularly the mid-field.
Los Pampas go in to the match with a well-balanced line-up. Loose head Rodrigo Martínez has three caps for Argentina. Tight head Javier Coronel is a prospect. Teenage hooker Valentino Minoyetti joins them in the front-row.
Lorenzo Colidio and Federico Lavanini will give plenty of grunt from the second-row while back-rowers Nicolás D’Amorim, Jerónimo Ureta and Santiago Ruiz have all improved throughout Super Rugby Americas 2023.
The backs see Mateo Albanese and Joaquín de la Vega Mendía starting in the halves. The latter is a former Major League Rugby player for Rugby ATL. Centers Manuel Alfaro and Benjamín Elizalde have both been among the best backs this season in the league.
A win for Los Pampas will ensure the team retains a hold of 3rd place in Super Rugby Americas. The American Raptors can move to within two points of Os Cobras. Doing so will require a bonus point win.
TEAMS
RAPTORS
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 2 Diego Fortuny, 3 Ma’ake Muti, 4 Will Crawford, 5 Mikey Grandy (capt.), 6 Diego Magno, 7 Tommy Clark, 8 Ronan Murphy, 9 Martín Landajo, 10 Patrick Madden, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 12 Watson Filikitonga, 13 Dominick Iacovino, 14 Ryan James, 15 Line Latu
Replacements: 16 Jack Manzo, 17 Chris Schade, 18 Adagio Lopeti, 19 Shawn Clark, 20 Siaki Vikilani, 21 Ethan McVeigh, 22 Cassh Maluia, 23 Lucas González Amorosino
PAMPAS
1 Rodrigo Martínez, 2 Valentino Minoyetti, 3 Javier Coronel, 4 Lorenzo Colidio, 5 Federico Lavanini, 6 Nicolás D’Amorim, 7 Jerónimo Ureta, 8 Santiago Ruiz (capt.), 9 Mateo Albanese, 10 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía, 11 Lucio Auad, 12 Manuel Alfaro, 13 Benjamín Elizalde, 14 Iñaki Delguy, 15 Juan Landó
Replacements: 16 Rodrigo Pérez Boulon, 17 Matías Medrano, 18 Javier Corvalán, 19 Manuel Bernstein, 20 Eliseo Fourcade, 21 Rafael Iriate, 22 Joaquín Lamas, 23 Juan Pablo Castro
Date: Sunday, April 16
Kick-Off: 3pm (MT); 6pm (AR)
Venue: Infinity Park (Denver, Colorado, US)
Referee: Francisco González (UY)
Assistant Referees: Phil Schwan (US); Joe Burpoe (US)
TMO: Marc Nelson (US)
Broadcast: ESPN; Star +
HISTORIC RESULTS
March 03, 2023 – Pampas 27-16 American Raptors (CASI, Buenos Aires, AR)
