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Friday will see Super Rugby Americas action in Uruguay for the first time in 2024. Peñarol play at home against the American Raptors in Montevideo. The clash sees two teams in search of their opening win of the season.
For Peñarol the match is the second of the campaign. The Uruguayan side put on lackluster showing in their season opener against Os Cobras in Jacareí, Brazil. The upset defeat did see Peñarol claiming a bonus point. In contrast, the American Raptors season thus far has been forgettable. The Colorado side fell to a hammering 56-8 loss against Los Dogos in Córdoba and a 52-17 defeat against Los Pampas in Buenos Aires.
Despite the showing in Brazil, Leonardo Senatore has named a Peñarol side with five changes and there is plenty of youth. Perhaps the 15-13 defeat was a blip. Os Cobras victory over Peñarol saw the Uruguayan scrum repeatedly demolished. This area of the game gave Os Cobras key field position and saw Peñarol’s opportunities severely depleted.
Veteran Mateo Sanguinetti was under mountains of pressure against Os Cobras. He is joined by rookie hooker Joaquín Myszka, and Mathias Franco against the Raptors. Two players full of energy but low on test caps will lock the scrum in Juan Manuel Rodríguez and Agustín Morales.
Santiago Civetta captains the side from flanker. He will be part of an outstanding back-row trio with Lucas Bianchi and Manuel Diana. This comes with Carlos Deus and Manuel Rosmarino both on the bench.
Santiago Álvarez and Juan Andrés Zuccarino offer continuity in the halves as does Juan Manuel Alonso at inside center. The remaining backs will be new to many viewers; Koba Brazionis and Dante Soto, Valentín Grille, and Juan Bautista Hontou all start.
The American Raptors’ two matches thus far featured brief periods of positive rugby. They were rewarded with tries; however, their defense was torn apart by both Los Dogos and Los Pampas. Moreover, the team is yet to be able to compete on a level field in general play.
Former Puma Diego Fortuny again leads the side from hooker. The unchanged front-row sees Fortuny joined by Ma’ake Muti, and Facundo Pomponio. They will a=have tall-timber behind them with Javon Camp-Villalovos, and Will Crawford locking the scrum.
Another second-rower starts at flanker in Mikey Grandy. He joins Aidan Christians and Mo Vainikolo in the back-row. Uruguayan Diego Magno started the season opener at N8 but was injured.
The backline features John Lefevre at scrum-half and Deveraux Ferris moves to fly half. Jacob Hidalgo gets a start on one wing with Tomi Morani moving to outside center. Morani is a possible future Eagle as is former Scotland winger Rufus McLean who will wear the 14 shirt.
Friday’s match will be the third Super Rugby America match between the teams and the fourth overall. The first meeting was outside of the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) 2022 season; Peñarol won 26-10 in Colorado. Peñarol won both league matches in Super Rugby Americas 2023. The April clash at Infinity Park was a barnburner.
PENAROL
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Joaquín Myszka, 3 Mathias Franco, 4 Juan Manuel Rodríguez, 5 Agustín Morales, 6 Santiago Civetta (capt.), 7 Lucas Bianchi, 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Santiago Álvarez, 10 Juan Andrés Zuccarino, 11 Dante Soto, 12 Juan Manuel Alonso, 13 Valentín Grille, 14 Koba Brazionis, 15 Juan Bautista Hontou
Replacements: 16 Francisco García, 17 Mateo Perillo, 18 Duban Silvera, 19 Manuel Rosmarino, 20 Carlos Deus, 21 Pedro Hoblog, 22 Ícaro Amarillo, 23 Joaquín Suárez
AMERICAN RAPTORS
1 Ma’ake Muti, 2 Diego Fortuny (capt.), 3 Facundo Pomponio, 4 Javon Camp-Villalovos, 5 Will Crawford, 6 Mikey Grandy, 7 Aidan Christians, 8 Mo Vainikolo, 9 John Lefevre, 10 Deveraux Ferris, 11 Jacob Hidalgo, 12 Zach Hall, 13 Tomi Morani, 14 Rufus McLean, 15 Francisco Quinn
Replacements: 16 Jackson Zabierek, 17 Clay Markoff, 18 Zack Jessell, 19 Shawn Clark, 20 Tavius Sykora-Matthes, 21 Tommy Clark, 22 Feofaaki Pulu, 23 Watson Filikitonga
Date: Friday, March 01
Kick-Off: 8pm (UY); 4pm (MST)
Venue: Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo (UY)
Referee: Gonzalo de Achával (AR)
Assistant Referees: Tomás Bertazza; Gonzalo Ventoso
TMO: Francisco Pesce
Broadcast: ESPN; Star +
HISTORIC RESULTS
Apr 30, 2023 – American Raptors 37-50 Peñarol (Denver, CO, US)
Feb 24, 2023 – Peñarol 28-19 American Raptors (Montevideo, UY)
Jun 18, 2022 – American Raptors 10-26 Peñarol (Denver, CO, US)
