Uruguay v Brazil: Americas Rugby Championship Preview

February 17, 2017

Uruguay v Brazil: Americas Rugby Championship Preview

Doug Coil

Uruguay will host Brazil Saturday at Domingo Burgueño Miguel Stadium in their first home match of the Americas Rugby Championship.

Uruguay has made five changes from the team that faced Argentina XV last Saturday. In the forwards, Mario Sagario will bring his experience from his 57 caps earned at tight head prop. Juan Manuel Gaminara, who captained the World Cup squad returns from injury in that role at flanker.

In the first two matches, No.8 Alejandro Nieto had that role. In the front row joining Sagario at prop is Mateo Sanguinetti, while Martín Espiga is at hooker.Ignacio Dotti and Diego Ayala are the locks with captain Manuel Gaminara being joined at flanker by Gonzalo Soto.

There are three changes in the backs, as Leandro Leivas returns on the right wing after missing last weekend’s match and Rodrigo Silva returns as stater at fullback, as he did against the Eagles. Andrés Vilaseca will also be at center.

Brazil

Rodolfo Ambrosio has made six changes to his Tupis side from last week’s loss against the United States. There are five changes in the forwards with along with a position change and one change in the backs.

Wilton Rebolo switches to loosehead prop while Pedro Bengaló will debut as an international test starter at tighthead prop. Daniel Danielewicz will start for the first time in a year at hooker, as the result of Yan Rosetti failing a late fitness test. REturning lock Lucas Piero is teamed with Diego López at lock. Both flankers Matheus Daniel and Cléber Dias join the starters, while Nick Smith remains at No.8.

There is stability in the backs for Brazil as De Wet van Niekerk returns to wing, but switches to the left side. On the right wing is Robert Tenorio. The halfback combination of Matheus Cruz and Josh Reeves remain at scrumhalf and flyhalf, respectively. Moisés Duque and Felipe Sancery are the center and Daniel Sancery is at fullback.

Should Endy Willian and Matheus Rocha enter the match as reserves, they will earn their first cap.

Uruguay: 1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Martín Espiga, 3 Mario Sagario, 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Diego Ayala, 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara (capt.), 7 Gonzalo Soto, 8 Alejandro Nieto, 9 Santiago Arata, 10 Germán Albanell, 11 Nicolás Freitas, 12 Andrés Vilaseca, 13 Juan Manuel Cat, 14 Leandro Leivas, 15 Rodrigo Silva 16 Facundo Gattas, 17 Matías Benítez, 18 Juan Echeverría, 19 Lorenzo Surraco, 20 Juan Diego Ormaechea, 21 Guillermo Lijtenstein, 22 Gastón Gibernau, 23 Manuel Diana

Brazil: 1 Wilton Rebolo, 2 Daniel Danielewicz, 3 Pedro Bengaló, 4 Lucas Piero, 5 Diego López, 6 Matheus Daniel, 7 Cléber Dias, 8 Nick Smith (capt.), 9 Matheus Cruz, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 De Wet van Niekerk, 12 Moisés Duque, 13 Felipe Sancery, 14 Robert Tenório, 15 Daniel Sancery 16 Endy Willian, 17 Vitor Ancina, 18 Matheus Rocha, 19 André Arruda, 20 João Luiz da Ros, 21 Beukes Cremer, 22 Luan Smanio, 23 André Brisola

Uruguay – Americas Rugby Championship