Sebastián Mejía will lead Colombia in today’s Rugby World Cup qualifier. Los Tucanes play away to Paraguay in a winner-takes-all contest in Asunción. The loser will be eliminated while the winner will play in the 2017 South American Championship which is to double as the next round of qualification.
Mejía will captain Colombia from No 8. His brother, Santiago will join him in the starting back-row, playing openside flanker. Gerston Ortiz completes the trio which is unchanged from the win over Mexico on October 29.
The only changes from that match come in the backs. At scrum half Julian Navarro drops to the bench with Oscar Forero starting. Maicol Machado is elevated to start which sees Brayan Campiño moving to the right wing. Both José Diosa and Pablo Lemoine will also start.
COLOMBIA
1 Jaider Pemberthy, 2 Manuel Correa, 3 Andrés Arango, 4 André Quintero, 5 Jhon Alvarez, 6 Gerson Ortiz, 7 Santiago Mejía, 8 Sebastian Mejía, 9 Oscar Forero, 10 Emmanuel Bedoya, 11 Maicol Machado, 12 Camilo Cadavid, 13 Pablo Lemoine, 14 Brayan Campiño, 15 José Diosa
Replacements: 16 Jorge Alvarez, 17 Mauricio Espinal, 18 Julian Navarro, 19 Hector Navarro, 20 Danny Giraldo, 21 Alejandro Vanegas, 22 Cristian Rodallegas, 23 Jhoaan Larrota