July Tests 2024: Paraguay vs Hong Kong – ARN Guide

The continued growth of rugby in the Americas sees an entirely new test match. For the fist time ever, Paraguay will take-on Hong Kong. It is a battle between South America’s fifth best and Asia’s second. The fixture is the second of three of Hong Kong’s South American tour. Hong Kong opened with a loss against Chile this past Saturday.

Hong Kong Coach Andrew Douglas has rung the changes. Second-rower Patrick Jenkinson, back-rower Joshua Hrstich (capt.), outside center Nathan de Thierry, and fullback Matthew Worley have been retained from last weekend. The remainder of the line-up is all change. One minor exception is that of the captain; Hstich makes a positional shift from flanker to N8.

Paraguay will run out for their first match of 2024. The team is center on Super Rugby Americas. Mariano Garcete leads a side of many familiar faces from the South American professional league. Further familiarity sees Estadio Héroes de Curupayty also hosting the test match against Hong Kong.

LINE-UP CHANGES

– First Test Match of 2024

1 James Holmes replaces Rory Cinamond
2 Alexander Post replaces Calum Scott
3 Faizal Solomona Penesa replaces Zac Cinamond
4 Jamie Pincott replaces Callum McCullough
6 Tyler McNutt replaces Joshua Hrstich
7 Pierce Mackinlay-West replaces James Sawyer
8 Joshua Hrstich replaces Luke van der Smit
9 Jacks Combes replaces Pat Joe Laidler
10 Gregor McNeish replaces Matteo Avitabile
11 Paul Altier replaces Harry Sayers
12 Ben Axten-Burrett replaces Tom Hill
14 Charles Hinson-Smith replaces Sebatian Brien

NOTES

• A heavily rotated Hong Kong is balancing Paraguay with the match against Chile.
• James Holmes debuts for Hong Kong.
• The match will be streamed live on www.gen.com.py
• Alvaro Alló debuts for Paraguay at flanker and Ramiro Amarilla at center. Amarilla is Argentine.
• Rolando Portillo, Arturo López, Gianfranco Parodi and Diego Miño are also from Argentina.
• Paraguayan coach and captain Ricardo Le Fort and Mariano Garcete are the same as Yacare in Super Rugby Americas.
• Paraguay open their new Rugby World Cup cycle.
• Los Yacare’s are ranked fifth in South America. Hong Kong are ranked second in Asia.
• Bilingual officiating will feature calls for Paraguay in Spanish and for Hong Kong in English.

PREDICTION

Paraguay vs Hong Kong is the South America no 5 against the Asia no 2. In World Rankings it is 38th at home against 24th. Hong Kong are ranked significantly higher with 59.17 points compared to Paraguay with 48.50. This is an indication that Hong Kong are clear favorites to win in Asunción. However, it is not an absolute as Paraguay defeated the Chile XV, a next-of-XV, in 2023. A Paraguayan win would be a major upset. Both teams like playing in the forwards so this is a game for purists and for people interested in the expanded World Cup. ARN projects Hong Kong to win by +40 points.

LINEUPS

PARAGUAY
1 Cesar Pérez, 2 Jordi Chavez, 3 Rolando Portillo, 4 Juan José Heisecke, 5 Mariano Garcete (capt.), 6 Alvaro Allo, 7 Ariel Núñez, 8 Mateo Rodríguez, 9 Gonzalo Bareiro, 10 Sebastián Urbieta, 11 Juan González, 12 Rafael Bareiro, 13 Ramiro Amarilla, 14 Gianfranco Parodi, 15 Arturo López

Replacements: 16 Daniel Cabral, 17 Camilo Blasco, 18 Estefano Aranda, 19 Ignacio Martínez, 20 Adrian León, 21 Diego Miño, 22 Hector Gayoso, 23 Tomás Mussi

HONG KONG
1 James Holmes, 2 Alexandre Post, 3 Faizal Solomona Penesa, 4 Jamie Pincott, 5 Patrick Jenkinson, 6 Tyler McNutt, 7 Pierce Mackinlay-West, 8 Joshua Hrstich (capt.), 9 Jack Combes, 10 Gregor McNeish, 11 Paul Altier, 12 Ben Axten-Burrett, 13 Nathan de Thierry, 14 Charles Higson-Smith, 15 Matthew Worley

Replacements: 16 Callum Scott, 17 Ben Higgins, 18 Zac Cinnamond, 19 Luke van der Smit, 20 Callum McCullough, 21 Bryn Phillips, 22 Harry Sayers, 23 Murray Brechin

 

MATCH DETAILS

Date: Saturday, July 13
Venue: Estadio Héroes de Curupayty, (Asunción, PY)
Kickoff: 8pm (PY); 8pm (HK)
Weather Forecast: Showers; 13 (Celsius); Wind 8 km/h
Broadcasts: ESPN; Disney +

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Francisco Gonzalez (Uruguay)
Assistants: Simón Larrubia (Argentina); Frank Méndez (Chile)

HISTORY

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