It’s a slow week for Americas players in the French Pro D2, with only a half-dozen in line to start on Friday evening, with perhaps a couple more on Sunday. Another seven have been named on the bench, with four countries represented in total – Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and the USA.
Flying Eagles winger Takudzwa Ngwenya will play host to four Argentines as Tarbes travel to Biarritz. Agustín Costa Repetto and Jerónimo Negrotto start in the visiting front row, with Sebastián Poet at first receiver and scrumhalf Nicolás Vergallo consigned to the bench this week.
Former Pumas 7s teammates Martín Chiappesoni and Javier Rojas will have a chance to meet up following Albi’s match at Dax. Chiappesoni starts at no8 for the home site, with Rojas a reserve for the travelers.
A trio of Argentines will sit to start the match at Colomiers, with Ariel Castellina covering prop and Demian Panizzo ready to help in the second row for the men in blue. Carlos Muzzio should feature at loosehead as a substitute for Mont-de-Marsan, who have cleared scrumhalf Agustín Ormaechea for international duty with Uruguay in the final round of the Americas Rugby Championship.
Carcassonne have not been so gracious with flyhalf Felipe Berchesi, who instead of playing for Los Teros will warm the bench in frustration against Lyon. Meanwhile in Montauban, two uncapped Argentinean imports line up for Provence, with Leandro Assi starting at tighthead and Lucas Caneda on the right wing.
Sunday’s game sees Chile’s Pablo Huete and Pumas pair Benjamín Macome and Martín Bustos Moyano in the mix for Bayonne, with American lock Christian Ostberg ready to make his second appearance for Aurillac after making his debut as a replacement in Lyon. Lineups for both sides are still to be confirmed.