Rugby World Cup 2027 Qualifier – Brazil vs Paraguay – ARN Guide

South America’s Rugby World Cup 2027 qualifying begins on Sunday in São Paulo. Brazil play host to Paraguay in a vital fixture for both as well as for Chile. Los Cóndores join Los Yakares and Os Tupis in the triangular competition with teams competing to join Uruguay for a chance of participating in Australia 2027.

The top two of the triangular competition will advance to join Los Teros. The overall winner of Uruguay and the two others will qualify for Rugby World Cup 2027 a South America 1. The bottom side of Brazil, Chile and Paraguay will face the champion of the second division in an elimination clash. The second division consists of Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru and Venezuela.

Brazil and Paraguay both prepared for their Rugby World Cup Qualifier by playing against Belgium and Hong Kong in July. Brazil proved to be far more competitive than did Paraguay. However, Paraguay did improve drastically from their match against Hong Kong to their game against Belgium.

 

NOTES

• Brazil and Paraguay are dreaming of Rugby World Cup debuts in 2027.
• Brazil are ranked 29th in the world and Paraguay 41st.
• The line-ups are dominated by Cobras and Yacare players from Super Rugby Americas.
• Brazil’s most-caped player in history, Moisés Duque returned to play for Os Tupis in July.
• Lucas Tranquez will earn his 51st cap for Brazil. Captain Cleber Dias will earn his 45th.
• Brazil vs Paraguay is an established fixture dating back to 1970.
• Paraguay last defeated Brazil in 2015 but Paraguay came close to an upset win in 2022.
• Brazil fell 26-25 to Hong Kong and defeated Belgium 47-25 in July.
• Paraguay were hammered 80-12 by Hong Kong and 45-20 to Belgium.

PREDICTION

A hot afternoon awaits Os Tupis and Los Yakares. This will be uncomfortable for all but nothing new to either side. Both teams like to play in the forward and it may be close in this area. What sets Brazil apart from Paraguay is the backline. With play-makers at fly half and fullback having slick centers and speedy wingers to work with, Brazil can target gaining the upper-hand and building points. ARN projects Brazil to win by +25 points.

LINEUPS

BRAZIL
15 Lucas Tranquez, 14 Robert Tenório, 13 Carlo Mignot, 12 Lorenzo Massari, 11 Ariel Rodrigues, 10 João Amaral, 9 Felipe Gonçalves, 8 André Arruda, 7 Matheus Cláudio, 6 Cleber Dias (capt.), 5 Gabriel Oliveira, 4 Ben Donald, 3 Matheus Rocha, 2 Endy Willian Pinheiro, 1 Wilton Rebolo

Replacements: 16 Henrique Ferreira, 17 João Lucas Marino, 18 Leonel Moreno, 19 Gabriel Paganini, 20 Adrio de Melo, 21 Rafael Teixeira, 22 Lucas Spago, 23 Moisés Duque

PARAGUAY
15 Arturo López, 14 Facundo Paiva, 13 Ramiro Amarilla, 12 Rafael Bareiro, 11 Juan González, 10 Sebastián Urbieta, 9 Diego Miño, 8 Gonzalo Camusio, 7 Ariel Nuñez, 6 Mateo Rodríguez, 5 Mariano Garcete (capt.), 4 Ignacio Martínez, 3 Rolando Portillo, 2 Agustín Benítez, 1 Camilo Blasco

Replacements: 16 Jordi Chavez, 17 Daniel Cabral, 18 Estefano Aranda, 19 Juan Heisecke, 20 Álvaro Allo, 21 Gonzalo Bareiro, 22 Héctor Gayoso, 23 Gianfranco Parodi

MATCH INFO

Date: Sunday August 18
Venue: Estádio Nicolau Alayon, São Paulo (BR)
Kickoff: 3:30pm (BR); 2:30pm (PY)
Weather Forecast: Sunny, 31°C, wind N (10 km/h)
Broadcasts: Nsports

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Pablo de Luca (AR)
Assistant Referees: Lucas Saccomanno (BR); Frank Méndez (CL)
TMO: Maximilano Mianda (AR)

vs  HISTORY

2023-08-28 – Paraguay 22, Brazil 41 (Asunción, PY)
2022-11-26 – Paraguay 19, Brazil 34 (Asunción, PY)
2022-08-25 – Brazil 31, Paraguay 28 (Barranquilla, CO)
2021-06-26 – Brazil 29, Paraguay 0 (São José dos Campos, BR)
2019-05-11 – Paraguay 10, Brazil 66 (Asunción, PY)
2017-05-26 – Brazil 57, Paraguay 06 (São Paulo, BR)
2016-05-07 – Paraguay 21, Brazil 32 (Asunción, PY)
2015-05-10 – Brazil 10, Paraguay 21 (Bento Gonçalves, BR)
2014-11-29 – Brazil 21, Paraguay 13 (São José dos Campos, BR)
2014-05-10 – Paraguay 31, Brazil 24 (Asunción, PY)
2012-10-27 – Brazil 35, Paraguay 22 (São Paulo, BR)
2011-05-20 – Brazil 51, Paraguay 14 (Puerto Iguazú, AR)
2010-05-19 – Brazil 23, Paraguay 18 (La Reina, CL)
2009-05-02 – Brazil 36, Paraguay 21 (Montevideo, UY)
2008-06-26 – Paraguay 6, Brazil 15 (Asunción, PY)
2005-10-02 – Paraguay 45, Brazil 08 (Asunción, PY)
2004-10-16 – Brazil 17, Paraguay 22 (São Paulo, BR)
2003-05-23 – Paraguay 27, Brazil 16 (Asunción, PY)
2002-04-20 – Brazil 13, Paraguay 14 (Florianopolis, BR)
2001-09-07 – Paraguay 21, Brazil 13 (Asunción, PY)
1993-10-10 – Paraguay 48, Brazil 17 (Asunción, PY)
1991-09-07 – Brazil 33, Paraguay 06 (São Paulo, BR)
1989-10-10 – Brazil 40, Paraguay 11 (Montevideo, UY)
1981-05-23 – Paraguay 35, Brazil 3 (Montevideo, UY)
1979-10-12 – Brazil 16, Paraguay 06 (Santiago, CL)
1977-10-27 – Paraguay 25, Brazil 13 (Tucumán, AR)
1975-09-21 – Paraguay 06, Brazil 19 (Asunción, PY)
1973-10-13 – Brazil 22, Paraguay 03 (São Paulo, BR)
1971-10-10 – Paraguay 12, Brazil 06 (Montevideo, UY)
1970-09-05 – Paraguay 03, Brazil 12 (Asunción, PY)