Nieto to lead Uruguay against Eagles

Alejandro Nieto will captain Uruguay against the USA in the opening round of the Americas Rugby Championship. The World Cup no8 returns to the Teros lineup after missing out on the Americas Pacific Challenge and November internationals with injury. Nieto steps in for regular captain Juan Manuel Gaminara, who has been ruled out with a persistent knee injury suffered on the European tour.

Head coach Esteban Meneses has named a 24-man squad for the match at Toyota Field in San Antonio, with a mix of established veterans and youngsters. Five uncapped players are included with prop forwards Matías Benítez and Felipe Inciarte both set to make their test debuts after winning the second division of the Campeonato Argentino with Uruguay ‘A’.

Also promoted from that group is promising flanker Rodolfo Garese, a converted centre. Old Boys hooker Diego Pombo follows in the footsteps of older brother Carlos, as does Francisco Berchesi, younger brother of World Cup starter Felipe.

In the elder Berchesi’s absence the pivotal flyhalf position looks to be filled by Germán Albanell, last capped in 2013 as a scrumhalf. Versatile Juan de Freitas will play in the midfield having previously won numerous caps on the flank, and powerful winger Leandro Leivas is back after missing out on the second half of last year.

There is strength in depth in the second row where experienced duo Diego Magno and Franco Lamanna are joined by lineout forwards Diego Ayala and Ignacio Dotti. Props Mateo Sanguinetti and Juan Echeverría are set to reprise their starting roles of last year’s competition.

FORWARDS
Matías Benítez (Champagnat), Juan Echeverría (Old Christians), Felipe Inciarte (Old Christians), Mateo Sanguinetti (Los Cuervos), Facundo Gattas (Lobos), Diego Pombo (Old Boys), Diego Ayala (MVCC), Ignacio Dotti (Los Cuervos), Franco Lamanna (Pro Recco, IT), Diego Magno (MVCC), Rodolfo Garese (Carrasco Polo), Alejandro Nieto (capt., Champagnat), Juan Diego Ormaechea (Carrasco Polo), Gonzalo Soto (Carrasco Polo)

BACKS
Santiago Arata (Old Christians), Guillermo Lijtenstein (Trébol Paysandú), German Albanell (Old Boys), Francisco Berchesi (Carrasco Polo), Juan Manuel Cat (Old BOys), Juan de Freitas (Champagnat), Gastón Gibernau (Old Boys), Leandro Leivas (Old Christians), Andrés Rocco (Old Boys), Rodrigo Silva (Carrasco Polo)