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The American Raptors entertain Selknam in Denver on Saturday. It is a vital fixture for both teams. The home side need to find the winning formula while the visitors must win to get back into the play-off’s zone.
It is the winning formula that the American Raptors are in search of. Their 0-7 record has seen narrow losses but also a humiliating defeat last weekend. The Raptos fell to a 63-0 home defeat against Los Pampas.
Changes were certain following last weekend’s outcome. Diego Fortuny will lead the side in place of Mikey Grandy. Fortuny has been a regular in the team while Grandy is out of the 23 this week. Will Crawford and Diego Magno start in the second-row with the Uruguayan moving from flanker into Grandy’s spot.
In the backs there is a first start for Ethan McVeigh. He replaces Martín Landajo at scrum-half. McVeigh will join Lucas González Amoroino in the halves. They will have plenty of attacking players to work with in the backs; indeed, Daytwon Sheridan, Aki Pulu, Watson Filikitonga, Ryan James, and Line Latu are all dangerous with ball in hand.
What has held back the Raptors more than anything this season is defense. Los Pampas exploited the frailties brilliantly last weekend. Selknam will be looking to also open up space as they look to rebound from four losses on the trot in Super Rugby Americas 2023.
The teams met in the opening round of the season. Selknam played great rugby and completed a bonus point 45-10 victory. The Chileans will be looking back at that performance for inspiration. Indeed, their most recent Super Rugby Americas performance was a disappointing 21-11 loss against Yacare.
While the results have not been flash, Seklnam are coming off an impressive performance against Black Lion. The Chileans were beaten at the death by the Georgian side. It was an epic encounter and one which may see future test matches between Los Cóndores and the Lelos.
Selknam is the backbone of Chile’s test side. Players are fighting for spots on the World Cup roster and the staff are rotating talent rather than fielding their first XV in every Super Rugby Americas match.
Their clash against the Raptors is a return to the Holy Ground; a return to Infinity Park. It was at this very ground that Chile defeated the USA to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023. Santiago Videla was a hero on the wing that day and he will lead Selknam against the Raptors from fullback.
Videla is one of two play-makers in the line-up. The other is fly half Rodrigo Fernández. They will have a balanced team of backs alongside them. They include the hard-running Matías Garafulc and Pablo Casas as well as the side-steppers of Domingo Saavedra and Lukas Carvalho.
Up-front the Chileans have a mixture of established names and youth. Javier Carrasco and Clemente Saavedra are examples of the former. The likes of Alfonso Escobar, Diego Escobar, Javier Eissmann, Santiago Pedrero and Raimundo Martínez have all developed strongly under Chile’s high performance system following the creation of Selknam.
TEAMS
RAPTORS
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 2 Diego Fortuny (capt.), 3 Ma’ake Muti, 4 Diego Magno, 5 Will Crawford, 6 Shawn Clark, 7 Tommy Clark, 8 Ronan Murphy, 9 Ethan McVeigh, 10 Lucas González Amorosino, 11 Daytwon Sheridan, 12 Aki Pulu, 13 Watson Filikitonga, 14 Ryan James, 15 Line Latu
Replacements: 16 Jack Manso, 17 Sebastian Otero, 18 Juan Echeverria, 19 Max Dacey, 20 Siaki Vikilani, 21 Martín Landajo, 22 Cassh Maluia, 23 Patrick Madden
SELKNAM
1 Javier Carrasco, 2 Diego Escobar, 3 Iñaki Gurruchaga, 4 Santiago Pedrero, 5 Javier Eissmann, 6 Clemente Saavedra, 7 Raimundo Martínez, 8 Alfonso Escobar, 9 Marcelo Torrealba, 10 Rodrigo Fernández, 11 Matías Garafulic, 12 Pablo Casas, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Lukas Carvallo, 15 Santiago Videla (capt.)
Replacements: 16 Jorge Delgado, 17 Salvador Lues, 18 Esteban Inostroza, 19 Thomas Orchard, 20 Ignacio Silva, 21 Nicolás Herreros, 22 Gaspar Moltedo, 23 Joaquín Milesi
Date: Saturday, April 22
Kick-Off: 3pm (MT); 5pm (CL)
Venue: Infinity Park (Denver, Colorado, US)
Referee: Francisco González (UY)
Assistant Referees: Michel Lawrenson (US); Phil Schwan (US)
TMO: Marc Nelson (US)
HISTORIC RESULTS
February 18, 2023 – Selknam 45-10 American Raptors (Santiago, CL)
