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A brand-new never seen before international rugby match will take place on the coast of the Pacific Ocean on Saturday. Chile play host to Belgium to open international competition between two teams who may yet both feature at Rugby World Cup 2027.
Chile gained a lot of attention in 2023. Los Cóndores were the only debutant competitor at the World Cup. Chile showed a willingness to attack in matches against Japan, Samoa, England and Argentina. The new World Cup cycle started with Chile defeating Hong Kong last weekend.
Hong Kong are now in Paraguay preparing for their second tour match while Belgium are set to open their own South American tour. Belgium is a team that has already made the world take notice in 2023; The Diables Noirs / Zwarte Duivells (Black Devils) upset Portugal earlier this year.
Belgium, like Hong Kong, are a plausible newcomer to Rugby World Cup following expansion. The move from 20 to 24 teams sees both now in the frame. On the one hand, Hong Kong are very well placed to qualify as Asia 1. On the other hand, Belgium are similar to Chile in that there are more teams legitimately competing for spots from their region.
| LINE-UP CHANGES |
2 Augusto Bohme replaces Diego Escobar
4 Clemente Saavedra replaces Santiago Pedrero
6 Martín Sigren replaces Clemente Saavedra
– First Match of South American Tour
| NOTES |
- Pablo Lemoine has moved Clemente Saavedra to lock with regular captain Martín Sigren starting.
- Chile are without first-choice backs Iñaki Ayarza, Rodrigo Fernández and Matías Garafulic.
- Chilean replacements see reinforcements in the form of players based in Europe: Matías Dittus, Joaquín Milesi, and Lucas Berti did not feature against Hong Kong.
- Lucas Berti will make his debut for Chile as a replacement.
- The match is Belgium’s first of their gather match tour of South America. Following matches will be away to Paraguay and Brazil.
- Bilingual officiating will feature calls for Chile in Spanish and for Belgium in English.
| PREDICTION |
Chile are 21st in the Official World Rugby Rankings. Belgium are 28th. The win over Hong Kong lifted Chile from 23rd while Canada and Namibia are 22nd and 23rd now. Against the backdrop is Belgium’s 10-6 win over Portugal from February. Belgium went from that win to losing 33-18 to Romania. In addition, Chile have World Cup experience; Belgium do not. Chile also happen to be playing at home and are confident after beating the Asia No 2 last weekend. In short, it is advantage Cóndores. ARN projects Chile to win by +12 points.
| LINEUPS |
CHILE
1 Javier Carrasco , 2 Augusto Bohme, 3 Iñaki Gurruchaga, 4 Clemente Saavedra, 5 Javier Eissmann, 6 Martín Sigren (capt.), 7 Raimundo Martínez, 8 Alfonso Escobar, 9 Marcelo Torrealba, 10 Tomás Salas, 11 Nicolás Garafulic, 12 Santiago Videla, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Cristóbal Game, 15 Luca Strabucchi
Replacements: 16 Diego Escobar, 17 Salvador Lues, 18 Matías Dittus, 19 Santiago Pedrero, 20 Joaquín Milesi, 21 Inti Ubeda, 22 Benjamín Videla, 23 Lucas Berti
BELGIUM
1 Bruno Vliegen, 2 Alexandre Raynier, 3 Basile van Parys, 4 Gillian Benoy, 5 Maximilien Hendrickx, 6 Toon Deceunnick, 7 Jérémie Brasseur, 8 Lucas Rassinfosse, 9 Julien Berger, 10 Hugo de Francq, 11 Dazzy Cornerz, 12 Jens Torfs, 13 Forian Remue, 14 Thomas Wallraf, 15 Matias Remue
Replacements: 16 Remi de Wolf, 17 Alexis Cuffolo, 18 Samuel Opsomer, 19 Dries de Keyser, 20 Arthur Smeets, 21 Timothé Rifon, 22 Viktor Pazgrat, 23 Simeon Soenen
| MATCH DETAILS |
Date: Saturday, July 13
Venue: Estadio Sausalito (Viña del Mar, CL)
Kickoff: 3pm (CL); 9pm (BE)
Weather Forecast: Sunny; 14 (Celsius); Wind 10 km/h
Broadcasts: ESPN; Disney +
| MATCH OFFICIALS |
Referee: Tómas Bertazza (Argentina)
Assistant Referees: Mauro Rossi (Argentina); Federico Solari (Argentina)
| HISTORY |
N/A
