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Bottom hosts top of Super Rugby Americas on Sunday. The battle of Glendale sees two teams in fine form clashing. The Raptors made history last weekend against Selknam while Peñarol proved they are the team to beat with an outstanding display against the no 2 side Los Dogos.
The Raptors have seen changes from one match to the next throughout Super Rugby Americas 2023. This continues for Sunday’s match at Infinity Park. Mikey Grand is back to lead the side. He will partner Mr. Consistent Diego Magno in the second-row.
Magno will have the honor of playing against his Teros teammates. So too will prop Juan Echeverría who has ben named on the bench. Payton Telea-Ilalio and Ma’ake Muti start up-front with one-time capped Puma Diego Fortuny.
Shawn Clark and Ronan Murphy have earned plenty of praise in recent weeks. They start in the back-row together with Canadian Siaki Vikilani.
Ethan McVeigh retains the scrum-half spot ahead of former Puma Martín Landajo. McVeigh will play inside another Puma with Lucas González Amorosino operating as the play-maker. The speedy Daytwon Sheridan and Ryan James both start on the wings while Line Latu is again the fullback.
The Super Rugby Americas leaders are full of confidence. The team is also highly settled and able to make changes without hesitation. Regular hooker Guillermo Pujadas drops to the bench this week. Emiliano Faccennini has a start in his place.
Faccennini will be a part of a new-look front-row. Diego Arbelo and Mateo Sanguinetti take-over from Matías Benítez and Ignacio Peculo respectively. Agustín Morales will also start. He replaces Felipe Aliaga in the second-row. The one change to the back-row sees Carlos Deus replacing Lucas Bianchi.
Santiago Álvarez and Felipe Etcheverry again start in the halves and Rodrigo Silva is retained at fullback. There are also starts against for Tomás Inciarte at outside center and Juan Manuel Alonso on the left wing. Changes come at inside center with Juan Andrés Zuccarino back in the side and on the right wing with a first start for Alfonso Silva.
RAPTORS
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 2 Diego Fortuny, 3 Ma’ake Muti, 4 Diego Magno, 5 Mikey Grandy (capt.), 6 Shawn Clark, 7 Ronan Murphy, 8 Siaki Vikilani, 9 Ethan McVeigh, 10 Lucas González Amorosino, 11 Daytwon Sheridan, 12 Aki Pulu, 13 Watson Filikitonga, 14 Ryan James, 15 Line Latu
Replacements: 16 Sione Finefeuiaki, 17 Sebastián Otero, 18 Juan Echeverría, 19 Will Crawford, 20 Tommy Clark, 21 Martín Landajo, 22 Cassh Maluia, 23 Patrick Madden
PENAROL
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Emiliano Faccennini, 3 Diego Arbelo, 4 Juan Manuel Rodríguez, 5 Agustín Morales, 6 Manuel Ardao (capt.), 7 Carlos Deus, 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Santiago Álvarez, 10 Felipe Etcheverry, 11 Juan Manuel Alonso, 12 Juan Andrés Zuccarino, 13 Tomás Inciarte, 14 Alfonso Silva, 15 Rodrigo Silva
Replacements: 16 Guillermo Pujadas, 17 Matías Benítez, 18 Reinaldo Piussi, 19 Felipe Aliaga, 20 Lucas Bianchi, 21 Juan Francisco Torres, 22 Gastón Mieres, 23 Icaro Amarillo
Date: Sunday, April 30
Kick-Off: 3pm (MST); 6pm (UY)
Venue: Infinity Park (Denver, Colorado, US)
Referee: Nehuén Jauri Rivero (AR)
Assistant Referees: Joe Burpoe (US); Steve Gore (US)
TMO: Chris O’Malley (US)
Broadcast: ESPN; Star +
HISTORIC RESULTS
February 24, 2023 – Peñarol 28-19 Raptors (Montevideo, UY)
