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A vital clash for both Selknam and Los Dogos sees the teams colliding in Santiago on Saturday. It is second playing away to fifth. The home side is looking to get back into the play-off’s zone while the visitors are closing-in on a home Semi Final.
Priorities have seen Selknam’s line-up changing during the season. Chile’s total focus is Rugby World Cup 2023. Pablo Lemoine has been clear that only two players have their places on the roster confirmed. Players thus have everything to play for.
Without or without player rotation Selknam is in need of improvement. The Chileans are on a five match losing streak. They opened the season with two wins but have since been beaten every time. The most recent loss saw the Raptors claiming their first ever win.
Selknam’s 26-22 loss in Colorado followed a disappointing 21-11 loss against Yacare. Selknam were strong before losing 35-24 to leaders Peñarol; but, it was the first two rounds in which Selknam genuinely played well. Performances in the wins over the Raptors and Los Pampas are what Selknam needs to replicate.
Selknam have named a strong line-up. If they play at their best then they certainly should win this match. Scrum-half Torrealba will have three play-makers to link with in the backs. Rodrigo Fernández starts at fly half, Francisco Urroz at fullback and Santiago Videla captains the side from the midfield.
Regular Matías Garafulic is out this week. In his place is a new wing pairing of Pablo Casas and Gaspar Moltedo. Of note is that Nicolás Garafulic remains sidelined; hs is now in a race against time to earn his spot on the test roster.
The forwards have plenty of size and power. Pablo Huete, and Javier Eissmann are a big second-row combination while back-rowers Clemente Saavedra and Raimundo Martínez have played as locks at the senior level previously. Hooker Diego Escobar and flanker Ignacio Silva provide mobility.
Following last weekend’s defeat to Peñarol Nicolás Galatro has made three changes to Los Dogos. They are split between the forwards and backs. Up front Tomás Bartolini replaces the injured Santiago Pulella at loose head prop. The second change is tactical; Julián Hernández moves from fullback to start at fly half. The third is in the centers with Argentina XV mid-fielder Agustín Segura starting.
The team is again to be led by Franco Molina from the second-row. He and Lautaro Simes have been the leading engine room in Super Rugby Americas 2023. They start again as do other familiar faces. Boris Wenger and Octavio Filippa continue in the front-row and Ignacio Gandini Aitor Bildosola and Efráin Elías in the back-row.
SELKNAM
1 Salvador Lues, 2 Diego Escobar, 3 Esteban Inostroza, 4 Pablo Huete, 5 Javier Eissmann, 6 Clemente Saavedra, 7 Ignacio Silva, 8 Raimundo Martínez, 9 Marcelo Torrealba, 10 Rodrigo Fernández, 11 Pablo Casas, 12 Santiago Videla (capt.), 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Gaspar Moltedo, 15 Francisco Urroz
Replacements: tba
DOGOS
1 Tomás Bartolini, 2 Boris Wenger, 3 Octavio Ignacio Filippa, 4 Lautaro Simes, 5 Franco Molina (capt.), 6 Aitor Bildosola, 7 Efráin Elías, 8 Ignacio Gandini, 9 Agustín Moyano, 10 Julián Hernández, 11 Ernesto Giudice, 12 Leonardo Gea Salim, 13 Agustín Segura, 14 Lautaro Cipriani, 15 Mateo Soler
Replacements: 16 Roman Pretz, 17 Octavio Barbatti, 18 Ramiro Valdes Iribarren, 19 Gregorio Hernández, 20 Manuel Todaro, 21 Juan Cruz Strada, 22 Juan Bautista Baronio, 23 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo
Date: Saturday, April 29
Kick-Off: 6pm (CL); 7pm (AR)
Venue: Estadio de La Pintana, Santiago (CL)
Referee: Tomás Bertazza (AR)
Assistant Referees: Frank Méndez (CL); Matías Esteban (UY)
TMO: José Ignacio Calle (CL)
Broadcast: ESPN; Star +
HISTORIC RESULTS
March 10, 2023 – Dogos 24-10 Selknam, Córdoba (AR)
