Americas Pacific Challenge – Round 3 Preview

The third and final round of the Americas Pacific Challenge takes place on Sunday at the Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo. Appropriately the grand finale between the Argentina XV and Fiji Warriors will decide the championship, with the other four teams fighting for pride and possible spots on their respective November touring squads. While most selections have already been made, a few odd players who are on the bubble will have one last chance to impress the selectors for a shot at senior honors.

All matches are expected to be available on a live stream to be confirmed by World Rugby on social media closer to kickoff.

 

SAMOA ‘A’ vs CANADA ‘A’
12:00 local, 11:00 ET, 08:00 PT

The Samoans will start Lene Nu’uuli at hooker with Ropeti Lafo ruled out through injury. Jack Saena and Johnny Va’ili get first starts of the competition at flyhalf and fullback respectively, and La’aloi Leilua is recalled on the wing in place of Jeff Makapelu. Otherwise the side is unchanged from the team that competed manfully but was ultimately overwhelmed by the Fijians on Wednesday.

Canada have made only one change in the forwards but have swapped out half of their backline. Ryan Ackerman replaces Ryan Kotlewski at tighthead, and Ray Barkwill assumes the captaincy with Gordon McRorie left on the bench. Andrew Ferguson and Patrick Parfrey are the new halfback combination with Guiseppe du Toit recalled in the midfield. Sean Ferguson makes his first appearance of the tournament on the left wing after being called up as an injury replacement during the week.

SAMOA ‘A’
1 Nephi Leatigaga 2 Lene Nu’uuli 3 Jake Grey (capt.) 4 Talaga Alofipo 5 Callum Adams 6 Mikaele Tapili 7 Oneone Fa’afou 8 Suamalie Tuiletufuta 9 Danny Tusitala 10 Jack Saena 11 Meki Magele 12 Rhema Sagote 13 Ope Peleseuma 14 La’aloi Leilua 15 Johnny Va’ili

16 Malcolm Tanielu 17 Michael Tuiloma 18 Sylvester Taupau 19 Lester Sefo 20 Joshua Fuimaono 21 Melani Matavao 22 Patrick Fa’apale 23 Malu Falaniko

CANADA ‘A’
1 Rob Brouwer 2 Ray Barkwill (c) 3 Ryan Ackerman 4 Lucas Albornoz 5 Adrian Wadden 6 Lucas Rumball 7 Matt Heaton 8 Admir Cejvanovic 9 Andrew Ferguson 10 Patrick Parfrey 11 Sean Ferguson 12 Guiseppe du Toit 13 Ben LeSage 14 Kainoa Lloyd 15 Rory McDonell

16 Martial Lagain 17 Peter Houlihan 18 Ryan Kotlewski 19 Conor Keys 20 Mike Sheppard 21 Gordon McRorie 22 Robbie Povey 23 Doug Fraser

Referee: Tim Baker (HKRFU)
Assistants: Pali De Luca (UAR) & Rodrigo Goyet (URU)
TMO: Alejandro Longres (URU)

 

USA SELECTS vs URUGUAY ‘A’
14:15 local, 13:15 ET, 10:15 PT

Six changes have been made to the USA side to face Uruguay, five in the pack. Angus MacLellan starts after being called into the squad to replace the injured Mason Pederson during the week, with Joe Taufete’e back at hooker and Alex Maughan getting his first start of the competition at tighthead. Matt Jensen steps in for Christian Ostberg in the sceond row, and Aladdin Schirmer appears for the first time at no8. Brett Thompson swaps with Ahmad Harajly on the wing in the only change to the backs.

Uruguay have called in a third reinforcement in the form of 20-year-old no8 Manuel Diana, who replaces Gonzalo Soto in the squad and moves straight into the starting lineup. Diego Magno returns to the second row with Diego Ayala dropping out. Santiago Arata gets his first start at scrumhalf, with fellow u20 standout Juan Manuel Cat in the midfield. The backline shuffle also sees Santiago Gibernau moved to outside centre, Nicolás Freitas to the left wing, and Rodrigo Silva selected on the right.

USA SELECTS
1 Angus MacLellan 2 Joe Taufete’e 3 Alex Maughan 4 Harry Higgins 5 Matt Jensen 6 Malon Al-Jiboori 7 Cecil Garber 8 Aladdin Schirmer 9 Nick Boyer 10 Ben Cima 11 Matai Leuta 12 Bryce Campbell 13 Martin Iosefo 14 Brett Thompson 15 Mike Te’o (capt.)

16 Hanco Germishuys 17 Jake Turnbull 18 Demecus Beach 19 Christian Ostberg 20 Pat Blair 21 Stephen Tomasin 22 JP Eloff 23 Ahmad Harajly

URUGUAY ‘A’
1 Mateo Sanguinetti 2 Martín Espiga 3 Mario Sagario (capt.) 4 Diego Magno 5 Manuel Leindekar 6 Joaquín Dell’Acqua 7 Santiago Hernández 8 Manuel Diana 9 Santiago Arata 10 Jerónimo Etcheverry 11 Nicolás Freitas 12 Juan Manuel Cat 13 Santiago Gibernau 14 Rodrigo Silva 15 Manuel Blengio

16 Marcos Chamyán 17 Ignacio Secco 18 Juan Echeverría 19 Lorenzo Surraco 20 Fernando Bascou 21 Guillermo Lijtenstein 22 Joaquín Prada 23 Andrés Rocco

Referee: Ricardo Sant’Anna (CBRu)
Assistants: Claudio Cattivelli (URU) & Martín Bangueses (URU)
TMO: Francisco Pesce (URU)

 

ARGENTINA XV vs FIJI WARRIORS
16:30 local, 15:30 ET, 12:30 PT

Juan Cruz González will start for Argentina at the pivotal flyhalf position, with Felipe Ezcurra restored as scrumhalf and captain. Olympian Santiago Álvarez returns in the midfield with Segundo Tuculet alongside on the wing. Up front there are two changes with Ignacio Larrague in at lock and Benjamín Macome starting at no8. Santiago Montagner shifts to the flank with Nicolás Menendez among the reserves.

Fiji have opted for only four changes from the team that beat Samoa. Jerry Naureure is recalled at hooker with Peni Naulago starting for the first time at lock. Masulame Kunavula moves to the blindside flank with Nemani Nagusa starting at no8 and assuming the captaincy. Henry Seniloli wears the no9 shirt, with Sitiveni Kunaga starting at inside centre in place of Eroni Vasiteri.

ARGENTINA XV
1 Facundo Gigena 2 Facundo Bosch 3 Cristian Bartoloni 4 Pedro Ortega 5 Ignacio Larrague 6 Tomás Lezana 7 Santiago Montagner 8 Benjamín Macome 9 Felipe Ezcurra (capt.) 10 Juan Cruz González 11 Julián Domínguez 12 Gabriel Ascárate 13 Santiago Álvarez 14 Segundo Tuculet 15 Bautista Delguy

16 Axel Zapata 17 Nicolás Solveyra 18 Santiago Medrano 19 Juan Cruz Guillemaín 20 Nicolás Menendez 21 Gonzalo Bertranou 22 Domingo Miotti 23 Fernando Luna

FIJI WARRIORS
1 Joeli Veitayaki 2 Jerry Naureure 3 Mesake Doge 4 Rupeni Nasiga 5 Peni Naulago 6 Mesulame Kunavula 7 Vasikali Mudu 8 Nemani Nagusa (capt.) 9 Henry Seniloli 10 Alivereti Veitokani 11 Ifereimi Tovilevu 12 Sitiveni Kunaga 13 Fred Hickes 14 Apete Daveta 15 Lepani Raiyala

16 Iliesa Leca 17 Mosese Ducivaki 18 Robert Delai 19 Esikia Macu 20 Eremasi Radrodro 21 Sakiusa Nadruku 22 Sakiusa Gavidi 23 Ilimeleki Leiloma

Referee: Joaquín Montes (URU)
Assistants: Tim Baker (HKRFU) & Pali De Luca (UAR)
TMO: Alejandro Longres (URU)