Chile names extended squad for Sudamericano

Mark Cross has named an extended group of 49 players in his Condores squad for the South American Championship, now known as the Sudamericano 6 Naciones ‘A’. The squad is a mix of established veterans and young prospects and features eight players who are based abroad.

On paper this looks a significantly stronger squad than then one that struggled during the Americas Rugby Championship. Bayonne lock Pablo Huete is the biggest addition to the forward pack and there is a surprise return for 49-cap veteran Sergio de la Fuente, recalled after a two-year absence.

Another exiled tighthead prop, Lucas Bordigoni, is included after recently joining Anton Petrowitsch at AA Coimbra in Portugal having spent 2017 playing for Balmy Beach in Toronto. Petrowitsch is also included and Nikola Bursic reports from the New Orleans Gold.

Bayonne prop Ramón Ayarza misses out with a knee injury. His younger brother Vicente, or ‘Vicho’ as he is known, is one of two Chile Sevens forwards set to be tested in the midfield along with hard-running Bernardo Moltedo. Both achieve senior XVs selection for the first time.

There are two further uncapped players in centre Nicolás Steinsapir and winger Rodrigo Manzano. Barcelona pair Francisco de la Fuente and Franco Velarde are the only professionals in the back division.

New names in the forwards include two locks, Anton Hornauer and the 2.01m (6’7″) Javier Eissmann. PWCC prop Oliver Thompson remains uncapped as is the versatile Piero Zunino, who starred as a loosehead prop in last year’s World Rugby u20 Trophy tournament.

Also graduating from that team is promising No8 Clemente Saavedra, brother of halfback Domingo. Los Troncos hooker Bruno Lillo gets called for the first time and veteran loose forward Adriano Razeto could yet win his first cap at the age of 29.

A detailed roster list can be seen here.

PROP
Lucas Bordigoni (AA Coimbra, PT), Sergio de la Fuente (Waipu, NZ), Vittorio Lastra (Valsugana, IT), José Tomás Munita (Uni Católica), Sebastián Otero (Los Troncos), Oliver Thompson (PWCC), Claudio Zamorano (Stade Francais), Piero Zunino (Uni Católica)

HOOKER
Tomás Dussaillant (Old Boys), Ignacio Guajardo (Old Macks), Bruno Lillo (Los Troncos), Rodrigo Moya (PWCC)

SECOND ROW
Nikola Bursic (New Orleans Gold, US), Javier Eissmann (Uni Católica), Anton Hornauer (Old Macks), Pablo Huete (Bayonne, FR), Mario Mayol (Old Boys), Thomas Orchard (Old Lions)

BACK ROW
Bastián Burguener (Sporting), Manuel Dagnino (Old Macks), Alfonso Escobar (COBS), Nicolás Garafulic (COBS), Eduardo Orpis (COBS), Anton Petrowitsch (AA Coimbra, PT), Adriano Razeto (PWCC), Javier Richard (COBS), Clemente Saavedra (Old Boys), Martín Sigren (Old Boys), Benjamín Soto (Stade Francais)

SCRUMHALF
Juan Pablo Perrotta (Uni Católica), Domingo Saavedra (Old Boys), Beltrán Vergara (Old Boys)

FLYHALF
José Tomás Maturana (Old Boys), Francisco Neira (Old Johns), Benjamín Pizarro (Uni Católica), Santiago Videla (Old Boys)

MIDFIELD
Lucca Avelli (PWCC), Vicente Ayarza (Old Boys), Francisco de la Fuente (Barcelona, ES), José Ignacio Larenas (Uni Católica), Bernardo Moltedo (Old Macks), Nicolás Steinsapir (Old Boys)

WING
Rodrigo Manzano (Old Macks), Mauricio Urrutia (Sporting), Franco Velarde (Barcelona, ES), Ítalo Zunino (COBS)

FULLBACK
Pablo Casas (PWCC), Tomás Ianiszewski (Old Locks), Felipe Neira (Old Johns)