Super Rugby Americas 2024 – Raptors vs Pampas – ARN Guide

Infinity Park will be the setting for a potentially high-scoring match on Sunday. The American Raptors, who like to play open rugby, have nothing to lose against the team from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Los Pampas share the top position and are en route to securing a home Semi Final.

CURRENT STANDINGS

2-0-4 (L2) 6th

6-0-1 (W4) 2nd

LINEUP CHANGES

4 William Crawford + 5 Javon Camp-Villalovos switch positions.
6 Shawn Clark replaces Tommy Clark
7 Aidan Christians replaces Mo Vainikolo
11 Francisco Quinn moves from 15
14 Jacob Hidalgo swaps wings; replaces Daytwon Sheridan
15 Rufus McLean replaces Francisco Quinn

1 Javier Corvalán replaces Matías Medrano
3 Javier Coronel replaces Estanislao Carullo
4 Rodrigo Fernández Criado replaces Eliseo Fourcade
5 Eliseo Fourcade replaces Marcelo Toledo
7 Eliseo Chiavassa replaces Nicolás D’Amorim
8 Tomás Bernasconi replaces Joaquín Moro
9 Simón Benítez Cruz replaces Ignacio Inchauspe
10 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía replaces Manuel Nogués
13 Juan Pablo Castro replaces Bruno Heit
15 Marcos Eliçagaray replaces Benjamín Elizalde

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

(4) – D Fortuny (AR), D Magno (UY), D Ferris (US), I Mieres (AR), R McLean (GB – SCO)

(0)

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– N/A

– J Moro, E Morales, B Elizalde

NOTES

• Simón Benítez Cruz and Eliseo Chiavassa earn heir first career starts for Los Pampas.
• Los Pampas lead the Off-Loads with 47 this season.
• Los Pampas have 38 clean breaks, the most of all teams in SRA 2024.
• The Raptors have won the most turn-overs with 38.
• The Raptors have scored 11 tries while Los Pampas have scored 35 this season.
• If Joaquín de la Vega Mendía scores 10 points he will overtake Joaquín Lamas (Yacare) to be the lading point scorer of the season.
• Santiago Pernas lead the way for tries with 7.

PREDICTION

One factor favors the American Raptors: home advantage. The Raptors have been at home in Colorado and are familiar with the mile-high altitude. Everything else is heavily balanced in favor of Los Pampas. The quality of rugby played by the Argentines is superior. The set-piece, breakdown and possession statistics all point to a significant Pampas advantage. Moreover, the team has more players of a higher standard. ARN projects a bonus point win for Los Pampas by a margin of 20+.

LINEUPS

AMERICAN RAPTORS
1 Ma’ake Muti, 2 Diego Fortuny (capt.), 3 Facundo Pomponio, 4 William Crawford, 5 Javon Camp-VIllalovos, 6 Shawn Clark, 7 Aidan Christians, 8 Diego Magno, 9 Devereaux Ferris, 10 Ignacio Mieres, 11 Francisco Quinn, 12 Watson Filikitonga, 13 Tomi Morani, 14 Jacob Hidalgo, 15 Rufus McLean

Replacements: 16 Jackson Zabierek, 17 Clay Markoff, 18 Koby Baker, 19 Tommy Clark, 20 Mo Vainikolo, 21 John LeFevre, 22 Aki Pulu, 23 Patrick Madden

PAMPAS
1 Javier Corvalán, 2 Ramiro Gurovich, 3 Javier Coronel, 4 Rodrigo Fernández Criado, 5 Eliseo Fourcade, 6 Manuel Bernstein (capt.), 7 Eliseo Chiavassa, 8 Tomás Bernasconi, 9 Simón Benítez Cruz, 10 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía, 11 Jerónimo Ulloa, 12 Justo Piccardo, 13 Juan Pablo Castro, 14 Santiago Pernas, 15 Marcos Eliçagaray

Replacements: Ignacio Bottazzini, 17 Renzo Zanella, 18 Estanislao Carullo, 19 Mateo Lorenzo, 20 Santiago Montagner, 21 Ignacio Inchauspe, 22 Bruno Heit, 23 Bernabé López Fleming

MATCH INFO

Date: Sunday, April 21
Venue: Infinity Park (Denver, CO)
Kickoff: 3pm (MST); 6pm (AR)
Weather Forecast: Party Cloudy 18°C, winds NE (8 km/h)
Broadcasts: Star +; ESPN

OFFICIALS

Referee: Francisco González (UY)
Assistants: Simon Larrubia (AR); Will Nelson (US)
TMO: Chris O’Malley (US)

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (3) – Raptors (0); Pampas (3) STREAK – Pampas (3)
Feb 15, 2024 – Pampas 52-17 American Raptors (Club Newman, Buenos Aires, AR)
Apr 16, 2023 – American Raptors 0-63 Pampas (Infinity Park, Denver, CO, US)
Mar 03, 2023 – Pampas 27-16 American Raptors (CASI, Buenos Aires, AR)