Super Rugby Americas 2024 – Raptors vs Yacare – ARN Guide

On the back of an outstanding finish last weekend, the American Raptors are looking for a second South American victim. The Raptors were 29-21 winners last weekend over Os Cobras. This time around the face the in-form and formidable Yacare. Fresh Colorado snow is expected as a new experience awaits the Alligators looking for a road win in Denver.

CURRENT STANDINGS

1-0-3 (W4) 6th

3-0-2 (L2) 2nd

LINEUP CHANGES

4 Javon Camp-Villalovos replaces Mikey Grandy
7 Aidan Christians replaces Shawn Clark
10 Rufus McLean moves from 15; replaces Ignacio Mieres
15 Cian Barry replaces Rufus McLean

8 Nicolás Parada Heit replaces Ariel Núñez

CLUB DEBUTS

(0)

(0)

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

(4) – D Fortuny (AR); D Magno (UY); R McLean (GB- SCO); Devereaux Ferris (US)

(11) – E Quinteros (PY); I Martínez (PY), M Garcete (PY); J González (PY); S Urbieta (PY); A López (PY); R Moyano (AR); D Cabral (PY); L Otaño (PY); A Núñez (PY); G Barreiro (PY)

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– Mikey Grandy (US); Ignacio Mieres (AR)

– Tomás MacCall (AR)

NOTES

• The American Raptors are in search of their first win over Yacare.
• If the Raptors beat Yacare and Selknam lose against Los Dogos then the Raptors will move into 5th position.
• A Yacare victory combined with a Dogos defeat would lace Yacare top of the SRA standings.
• With a 95% success record, Yacare are the SRA leaders at rucks.
• Juan Cruz Strada leads the turn-over statistics with 6 thus far in SRA 2024.
• Another Yacare record at present is 9 yellow cards thus far this season.

PREDICTION

Yacare join Los Dogos and Los Pampas as the three best teams in Super Rugby Americas 2024. The rugby played in rounds 1-5 this season strongly indicate that they are head-and-shoulders above the competition. Yacare saw-off Selknam, and were big winners over Os Cobras and Peñarol. The American Raptors clicked in the second-half against Os Cobras and will require more this Sunday. Yacare are clear favorites for a big road win.

LINEUPS

RAPTORS
1 Ma’ake Muti, 2 Diego Fortuny (capt.), 3 Facundo Pomponio, 4 Javon Camp-Villalovos, 5 Will Crawford, 6 Mo Vaniolo, 7 Aidan Christians, 8 Diego Magno, 9 John Lefevre, 10 Rufus McLean, 11 Jacob Hidalgo, 12 Watson Fikitonga, 13 Thomas Morani, 14 Daytwon Sheridan, 15 Cian Barry

Replacements: 16 Jackson Zabierek, 17 Clay Markoff, 18 Justus Tavai, 19 Tommy Clark, 20 Shawn Clark, 21 Devereaux Ferris, 22 Aki Pulu, 23 Francisco Quinn

YACARE
1 Ezequiel Reyes, 2 Axel Zapata, 3 Enrique Quinteros, 4 Ignacio Martínez, 5 Mariano Garcete (capt.), 6 Juan Pérez Rachel, 7 Felipe Puertas 8 Nicolás Parada Heit, 9 Juan Cruz Strada, 10 Joaquín Lamas, 11 Juan González, 12 Sebastián Urbieta, 13 Ramiro Amarilla, 14 Arturo López, 15 Ramiro Moyano

Replacements: 16 Lucas Otãno, 17 Daniel Cabral, 18 Rodolfo Rivadeneira, 19 Lucio Anconetani, 20 Ariel Núñez 21 Gonzalo Barreiro, 22 Joaquín Mussi, 23 Tomás Vanni

MATCH INFO

Date: Sunday, March 25
Venue: Infinity Park (Denver, CO)
Kickoff: 3pm (MST); 6pm (PY)
Weather Forecast: snow, -3°C, wind N (21km/h)
Broadcasts: Star +; ESPN

OFFICIALS

Referee: Francisco González (UY)
Assistants: Tomas Bertazza; Morris Fuller
TMO: Chris O’Malley

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (2) – Raptors (0); Yacare (2) STREAK – Yacare (2)

May 07, 2023 – Raptors 37-44 Yacare (Denver, CO)
March 11, 2023 – Yacare 25-3 Raptors (Asunción, PY)