Round 9 of SLAR 2022 opens with Cobras vs Olímpia Lions. The fixture is vital for the Paraguayans. The SLAR 2021 Semi Finalists are presently outside of the play-off’s zone. They need a win to climb above Los Cafeteros Pro and retake 4th position. Os Cobras, meanwhile, are looking to build on their strong showing on Friday and secure their first win of the campaign.
Os Cobras have gone national. Every starting player is Brazilian eligible. It makes the line-up one that is preparing for international activity. Be that as it may, there is no doubt that Os Cobras are feeling the pressure of the need to turn around their 0-8 SLAR 2022 season.
Endy Willian will oplay hooker alongside two improving props in Brendon Alves, and Henrique Ribeiro. They will have power behind them with Gabriel Paganini and Kauã de Oliveira locking the scrum. This selection sees Cléber Dìas again playing flanker. Días joins veteran André Arruda and Adrio Luiz in the back-row. Luiz gets a start with the established duo of Matheus Cláudio and Devon Muller watching from the bench.
Douglas Rauth and Lucas Spago start in the halves. They will be in charge of running the game. They will have help with Lucas Tranquez playing fullback. Tranquez started the early rounds of SLAR 2022 for Os Cobras at fly half. Daniel Sancery captains the side from the right wing.
The Olímpia Lions have opted for rotation. Their line-up is unlike others used thus far in SLAR 2022. It contains a new-look front-row of Manuel Stuchetti, Juan Ignacio Sánchez, and Franco Giacoppo. Lorenzo Colidio, and Agustín Toth have been replacements more than starters this season. They will lock the scrum together with a classy back-row of Federico Simondi, Ariel Nuñez, and Mariano Romanini rounding out the forwards.
Ignacio Inchauspe captains the Olímpia Lions from scrum-half. He will do so inside Nicolás Hogg. The decision sees Paraguayan Sebastián Urbieta playing this match at inside center. One of the break-out players in SLAR 2022, Julián Quetglas starts at fullback.
Both teams have depth to call-upon from their replacement benches. It is a contest that could go down to the wire. It is an excellent opportunity for both teams to improve their seasons by claiming a victory.
TEAMS
COBRAS
1 Brendon Alves, 2 Endy Willian, 3 Henrique Ribeiro, 4 Gabriel Paganini, 5 Kauã de Oliveira, 6 Cléber Días, 7 Adrio Luiz, 8 André Arruda, 9 Douglas Rauth, 10 Lucas Spago, 11 Daniel Lima, 12 Joel dos Santos, 13 Robert Tenório, 14 Daniel Sancery (capt.), 15 Lucas Tranquez
Replacements: 16 Leonardo Souza, 17 Alexandre Alves, 18 Joel Ramírez, 19 Matheus Cláudio, 20 Devon Muller, 21 Rafael Spago, 22 Bautista Santamarina, 23 Pedro Goulart
OLÍMPIA LIONS
1 Manuel Stuchetti, 2 Juan Ignacio Sánchez, 3 Franco Giacoppo, 4 Lorenzo Colidio, 5 Agustín Toth, 6 Federico Simondi, 7 Ariel Nuñez, 8 Mariano Romanini, 9 Ignacio Inchauspe (capt.), 10 Nicolás Hogg, 11 Juan González, 12 Sebastián Urbieta, 13 Francisco Díez, 14 Agustín Córtes, 15 Julián Quetglas
Replacements: 16 Emilio Gorostiaga, 17 Luis Enrique Quinteros, 18 Rolando Portillo, 19 Álvaro Biscay, 20 Lautaro Britez, 21 Facundo Villalba, 22 Gianfranco Parodi, 23 Ramiro Amarilla
Date: Saturday, April 02, 2022
Kick-Off: 4:00pm (Montevideo, Brasília); 3:00pm (Asunción)
Venue: Estadio Charrúa (Montevideo, Uruguay)
Referee: Juan Manuel León (Colombia)
Assistant Referees: Gonzalo de Achaval (Argentina); Simón Larrubia (Argentina)
TMO: Frank Méndez (Chile)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-04-02 – Olímpia Lions 42, Cobras 17 (Estadio 3 de Febrero, Ciudad del Este, Paraguay)
2021-03-25 – Olímpia Lions 19, Cobras 15 (Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo, Uruguay)
2021-03-25 – Cobras 8, Olímpia Lions 44 (Estadio Elías Figueroa, Valparaiso, Chile)