Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Goal-kicking hero Moisés Duque headlines the Brazil team named to face Chile in the opening match of the 2017 Americas Rugby Championship on Friday. Brother Lucas misses out due to injury. Also set to play starring roles are the Sancery twins, Felipe and Daniel, while there is are two debutantes named in the backline. New Zealand-born Josh Reeves has been handed the critical decision-making role at flyhalf while South African utility back De Wet van Niekerk has been selected on the wing.
An experienced forward pack is named with Diego López recalled in the second row beside the established Lucas Piero and former skipper João Luiz da Ros present on the flank. Nick Smith will lead the side from no8, while 20-year-old loosehead prop is the baby of the side having made his debut against Kenya in June.
Speedy flanker Matheus Daniel will wait to make his ARC bow as a reserve, where versatile Guilherme Coghetto is also named. Daniel Danielewicz will play backup to starting hooker Yan Rosetti, the only player based outside of Brazil who plays his club rugby for CUBA in Argentina. The 34-year-old Danielewicz begins his final year of test rugby having been a fixture in the side for more than a decade.
Os Tupis were defeated by Chile 25-22 in the same fixture last year. Friday’s match takes place at the Estádio do Pacaembu in São Paulo with kickoff set for 8:15 pm local time, 5:15 pm Eastern. The match will be broadcast live by ESPN Brazil.
BRAZIL
1 Alexandre Alves, 2 Yan Rosetti, 3 Wilton Rebolo, 4 Diego López, 5 Lucas Piero, 6 João Luiz da Ros, 7 André Arruda, 8 Nick Smith (capt.), 9 Beukes Cremer, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Stefano Giantorno, 12 Moisés Duque, 13 Felipe Sancery, 14 De Wet van Niekerk, 15 Daniel Sancery
RESERVES: 16 Daniel Danielewicz, 17 Jonatas Paulo, 18 Vitor Ancina, 19 Felipe Tissot, 20 Matheus Daniel, 21 Matheus Cruz, 22 Luan Smanio, 23 Guilherme Coghetto
