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The first match of the new Sudamericano 6 Naciones ‘A’ competition will take place in Medellín where Colombia host the Uruguay XV at the Estadio Cincuentenario on Saturday. Having already qualified for the World Cup, neither Uruguay nor Argentina will enter test sides in the new South American Championship, allowing for more competitive matches against developing nations such as Colombia.
It’s a major milestone for Los Tucanes, who have graduated from the South American ‘B’ Championship to take their place alongside the heavyweights of the continent. They will go from matches against Peru and Venezuela to the Uruguay XV and Brazil, with the Americas Rugby Championship ‘B’ competition later this year giving them a significant increase in both matches and quality of opposition.
Colombia have named a match-day 23 but have yet to confirm their precise configuration. Regardless, their strength will be in the pack. Mauricio Espinal and Andrés Arango are the likely starters at prop and each are adept in the set piece. Gerson Ortiz is a blockbusting runner in the back row and the Mejía brothers – Santiago and captain Sebastián – are institutions in the Tucanes pack who lead from the front.
The backs lack size but have pace and creativity. Emmanuel Bedoya and Jose Manuel Diosa should form a potent playmaking duo at first and second receiver, with Andrés Álvarez now established at fullback. Diminutive winger Arley Urrutia is very rapid and sure to catch the eye whether starting or making an impact from the bench.
Uruguay will use the tournament to test fringe players with an eye to rounding out their top 31 players ahead of the 2019 World Cup. Most of those in contention for a full strength 23 have been left out but there are exceptions in loosehead prop Matías Benítez and his backup for the game – 50-cap veteran Mateo Sanguinetti. The latter is called in to fill in for a number of alternatives who are unavailable.
An excellent back row is led by captain Juan Diego Ormaechea while Gonzalo Soto is a makeshift lock. It’s a short forward pack and one that could see some problems in the lineout if the Tucanes start tall timber Danny Giraldo. Reserve tighthead Guillermo Pujadas is highly rated having impressed with the u20s and should get a chance to show his abilities in the loose during the second half.
Directing the backline are Americas Rugby Championship duo Tomás Inciarte and Andrés De León, the former a very well rounded player and the latter a gifted footballer. Federico Favaro is a danger man on the wing who is very much in the mix for World Cup honors, and Manuel Blengio adds experience behind a young three-quarter line.
This is a match that Uruguay should win comfortably but at home and boosted by the historic occasion the Tucanes could make a match of it. Depth and fitness will prove issues later in the game as Colombia come to grips with their new surroundings.
COLOMBIA
1 Mauricio Espinal, 2 Jorge Álvarez, 3 Andrés Arango, 4 Santiago Mejía, 5 Jhon Carlos Álvarez, 6 Gerson Ortiz, 7 Diver Ceballos, 8 Sebastián Mejía (capt.), 9 Alejo Vanegas, 10 Emmanuel Bedoya, 11 Arley Urrutia, 12 José Manuel Diosa, 13 Juan Dávila, 14 Juan Sebastián Giraldo, 15 Andrés Álvarez
Replacements: 16 Diego Posada, 17 Héctor Navarro, 18 Johan Larrota, 19 Felipe Aguirre, 20 Danny Giraldo, 21 Julián Navarro, 22 Johan Ortiz, 23 Neider García
URUGUAY XV
1 Matías Benítez, 2 Facundo Gattas, 3 Felipe Inciarte, 4 Gonzalo Soto, 5 Juan Diego Quintero, 6 Leandro Segredo, 7 Juan Diego Ormaechea (capt.), 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Tomás Inciarte, 10 Andrés De León, 11 Manuel Portela, 12 Marcos Pastore, 13 Facundo Klappenbach, 14 Federico Favaro, 15 Manuel Blengio
Replacements: 16 Marcos Chamyan, 17 Mateo Sanguinetti, 18 Guillermo Pujadas, 19 Eric Dosantos, 20 Germán Kigel, 21 Matías Risso, 22 Germán Albanell, 23 Martín Fitipaldo
Date: Saturday, May 5
Venue: Estadio Cincuentenario, Medellín
Kickoff: 14:00 local (12:00 Pacific, 15:00 Eastern, 16:00 Montevideo)
Broadcasts: tbc
