Brazil v Canada: Americas Rugby Championship Preview

Doug Coil

The Americas Rugby Championship concludes this week. Brazil will host Canada on March 3 at Pacaembu Stadium, Brazil.

Should Canada win, then Uruguay will need to defeat Chile on Saturday to finish in third place. Canada needs a win and a Uruguay loss to finish third. On the other hand, Brazil could finish fourth with a win over Canada. It is also a possibility that should Chile gain a bonus point win over Uruguay and Brazil have a loss without gaining a bonus point, that the Tupis could finish with the Wooden Spoon instead of Chile.

Brazil’s head coach Rodolfo Ambrosio has made seven changes from last week’s loss against Argentina XV. Lucas Duque has recovered from injury and will start at scrumhalf in his first Americas Rugby Championship match of 2017.

Lucas Duque will join brother Moisés in the starting lineup. With De Wet van Niekerk sustaining a concussion against Argentina, Lucas Tranquez will start on the left wing. Matheus Cláudio may make his test debut should he enter the match.

In the tight five has changed with Jonatas Paulo at loosehead and Pedro Bengaló at tighthead prop. Luan Almeida will start at hooker for the first time during the series. The locks have also changed with Lucas Piero and Luiz Vieira returning as starters. André Arruda and captain Nick Smith return at flanker and No.8, respectively, while Arthur Bergo will start for the first time at flanker.

Canada

Brothers Brett and Matt Beukeboom will make their first test start together in Friday’s Americas Rugby Championship final against Brazil. They become the first set of Canadian brothers to start in the same test match since Jamie and Phil Mackenzie in Canada’s 2015 Rugby World Cup match against Italy on Sept. 26.

Eric Howard will make his first test start at hooker, shifting Ray Barkwill as a reserve. Rob Brouwer and Matt Tierney will be the props. Brett Beukeboom will have a new partner in Liam Chisholm at lock, while Matt Beukeboom is the openside flanker with Lucas Rumball and blindside and Admir Cejvanovic at No. 8.

Gordon McRorie, the captain, will be the scrum-half with Gradyn Bowd entering at flyhalf. Rory McDonell will make his test debut on the wing and will be joined by Dan Moor. Guiseppe du Toit enters at fullback with Brock Staller shifting to a reserve. Nick Blevins and Conor Trainor remain the centers.

Friday’s game can be seen LIVE on TSN GO with a replay being shown on TSN 5 on March 5 at 12pm ET/9am PT.

Canada v Brazil: 1. Rob Brouwer 2. Eric Howard 3. Matt Tierney 4. Brett Beukeboom 5. Liam Chisholm 6. Matt Beukeboom 7. Lucas Rumball 8. Admir Cejvanovic 9. Gordon McRorie (Captain) 10. Gradyn Bowd 11. Rory McDonell 12. Nick Blevins 13. Conor Trainor 14. Dan Moor 15. Guiseppe Du Toit 16. Ray Barkwill 17. Djustice Sears -Duru 18. Cole Keith 19. Reegan O’Gorman 20. Clay Panga 21. Phil Mack 22. George Barton 23. Brock Staller

Brazil v Canada: 1 Jonatas Paulo, 2 Yan Rosetti, 3 Pedro Bengaló, 4 Lucas Piero, 5 Luiz Vieira, 6 André Arruda, 7 Arthur Bergo, 8 Nick Smith (capt.), 9 Lucas Duque, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Lucas Tranquez, 12 Moisés Duque, 13 Felipe Sancery, 14 Ariel Rodrigues, 15 Daniel Sancery 16 Luan Almeida, 17 Wilton Rebolo, 18 Matheus Rocha, 19 Diego López, 20 João Luiz da Ros, 21 Matheus Cruz, 22 Matheus Cláudio, 23 Stefano Giantorno

Canada – Americas Rugby Championship