Chile v Argentina XV: Americas Rugby Championship Preview

February 17, 2017

Chile v Argentina XV: Americas Rugby Championship Preview

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Doug Coil

Chile hosts Argentina XV on Saturday at Talcahuano in Concepción. Kick-off is scheduled for 6:00pm (4pm ET) with the match broadcast on ESPN3. The match is uncapped, as the Argentina XV is not the official test side.

According to Rugby American News, Chile prepared for the match against Argentina XV with coaches Mark Cross and Raúl Marín. Head Coach Bernard Charreyre was with the Chilean women’s Rugby 7’s team at the Sudamérica Women’s Rugby Sevens.

Chile has shaken up their starters with 12 changes from their loss against Canada last week.

José Ignacio Larenas takes over as captain with Benjamin Soto, the captain last week returning at No 8.

In the forwards, the front row has been changed with Claudio Zamorano and Gonzalo Martínez as props, while Manuel Gurruchaga will be the hooker. Mario Mayol returns at lock and will be teamed with Nelson Calderón. Cristóbal Niedmann joins returning flanker Anton Petrowitsch, while Benjamín Soto is at eight-man.

Zamorano and Niedmann return as starters from the opening match against Brazil. Manuel Gurruchaga and Nelson Calderon provide a veteran presence, with the later returning after a five year absence from test matches. Gurruchaga is healthy after missing the first two matches and will be an improvement for Los Cóndores.

The backs that faced Canada last week have been changed. Rodrigo Fernández is back at fullback from starting against Brazil. Juan Pablo Larenas and Jorge Castillo, who were reserves last week, are the scrumhalf and flyhalf, respectively. The centers include Ricardo Sifro and captain José Ignacio Larenas, with Martín Verschae and Martín Fernández the wings.

Two players will make their starting debuts for Los Cóndores. Prop Gonzalo Martínez was capped for the first time against Brazil. Fly half Jorge Castillo will also start for the first time and had his international test debut against South Korea in November.

Argentina XV

Head coach Felipe Contepomi has virtually a new set of starters, as he changes 12 players from the team’s win against Uruguay last week.

Juan Cappiello will captain the Argentina XV side at outside center and takes over for Lautaro Bavaro will be a reserve.

Santiago Álvarez, who played center against Los Teros, moves back to the wing and will be joined with Germán Schulz as the other wing. Lautaro Bazán and Juan Cruz González will be the halfbacks with the Bruno Devoto joining captain Juan Cappiello as centers. Fernando Luna will be at fullback and returns as a starter from the opening match against Canada, although he was at wing.

In the forwards there are seven changes with only lock Ignacio Larrague being retained. The front row will consist of Nicolás Solveyra and Eduardo Bello, while Axel Zapata will be the hooker. Joining Ignacio Larrague at lock is Franco Molina, who will be starting for the first time. In the backrow, Francisco Gorrissen returns from his debut against Canada at openside flanker, while Santiago Montagner will be at blindside. Rodrigo Bruni will start internationally for the first time at No.8.

Waiting in the wings as a replacement, is Sebastián Cancelliere, who had a hat trick performance against Uruguay.

Chile: 1 Claudio Zamorano, 2 Manuel Gurruchaga, 3 Gonzalo Martínez, 4 Mario Mayol, 5 Nelson Calderón, 6 Cristóbal Niedmann, 7 Anton Petrowitsch, 8 Benjamín Soto, 9 Juan Pablo Larenas, 10 Jorge Castillo, 11 Martín Verschae, 12 Ricardo Sifri, 13 José Ignacio Larenas (Capt.), 14 Martín Fernández, 15 Rodrigo Fernández 16 Martín Mendoza, 17 Sebastián Valech, 18 José Tomás Munita, 19 Manuel Dagnino, 20 Eduardo Orpis, 21 Sergio Bascuñán, 22 Francisco González Moller, 23 Mauricio Urrutia

Argentina XV: 1 Nicolás Solveyra, 2 Axel Zapata, 3 Eduardo Bello, 4 Franco Molina, 5 Ignacio Larrague, 6 Francisco Gorrissen, 7 Santiago Montagner, 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 9 Lautaro Bazán, 10 Juan Cruz González, 11 Germán Schulz, 12 Bruno Devoto, 13 Juan Cappiello (capt.), 14 Santiago Álvarez, 15 Fernando Luna 16 Marcelo Brandi, 17 Francisco Ferronato, 18 Alejo Brem, 19 Pedro Ortega, 20 Lautaro Bavaro, 21 Sebastián Cancelliere, 22 Tomás Granella, 23 Bautista Delguy

Chile – Americas Rugby Championship