Gen Blue to field 11 Waratahs for Pampas clash
New South Wales will field its strongest development side yet when it takes on Argentinian side Pampas XV in the latest round of the iRB Pacific Rugby Cup tomorrow (Friday March 7).
Hoping to remain undefeated, Gen Blue coach Tim Rapp has named a starting team that features 11 capped Waratahs, including Wallaby Rob Horne and captain Pat McCutcheon.
With the NSW Waratahs enjoying a bye week, the match is a great opportunity for Waratahs Head Coach Michael Cheika to give some game time to those vying for a place in next weekend’s round 5 clash with the Brumbies.
Said Cheika, “It’s quite a big game against the Pampas, they’re the best team in the PRC competition. We’re lucky we’re going to have everyone who’s not in our first XV available.”
In the forwards, NSW club captain Pat McCutcheon leads a pack containing seasoned campaigners Jeremy Tilse, Tolu Latu, Jed Holloway and Tala Gray.
The back line is full of attacking players, the combination of Brendan McKibbin and Jonno Lance wouldn’t look out of place in a Super Rugby match.
With talent out wide, there is also plenty of potential to play the Tahs’ attacking style of rugby, with Rob Horne, Matt Carraro, Ben Volovola and Cam Crawford all ready to showcase their skills.
Pampas XV boats a number of Pumas rookies. Lock Tomás Lavanini retains his position from last week’s win over the ACT, whilst flyhalf Patricio Fernández, who starred against the ACT, is replaced by Santiago González Iglesias. These two are among the most likely to be considered in the new generation of Argentina national regulars.
The Pampas kicked off their PRC campaign last Sunday by defeating ACT A 32-23. Gen Blue is looking to make it three wins from three, having already defeated ACT A and Samoa A in the iRB Pacific Rugby Cup.
The game takes place tomorrow (Friday) at 3pm at David Phillips Field, Daceyville.
Gen Blue: 1 Jeremy Tilse (Sydney University), 2 Tolu Latu (Sydney University), 3 Tim Metcher (Southern Districts), 4 Jarrod Barry (Eastwood), 5 Loma Kaveinga (Balmain), 6 Jed Holloway (Southern Districts), 7 Pat McCutcheon (captain, Sydney University), 8 Tala Gray (Eastern Suburbs), 9 Brendan McKibbin (Eastern Suburbs), 10 Jonno Lance (Eastern Suburbs), 11 Joel Brooks (West Harbour), 12 Rob Horne (Southern Districts) 13 Matt Carraro (Randwick), 14 Ben Volavola (Southern Districts), 15 Cam Crawford (Northern Suburbs).
Replacements: 16 Mike Ala’alatoa (Southern Districts), 17 Hugh Roach (Eastwood), 18 Sam Talakai (Sydney University), 19 Seilala Lam (Randwick), 20 James Cunningham (Unattached), 21 Matt Lucas (Manly), 22 Mali Hingano (Manly), 23 Pieter Engelbrecht (Randwick).
Pampas XV: 1 Lucas Noguera Paz, 2 Matías Cortese, 3 Bruno Postiglioni, 4 Matías Alemanno, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Tomás de La Vega, 8 Antonio Ahualli de Chazal, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 10 Santiago González Iglesias, 11 Manuel Montero, 12 Jerónimo de La Fuente, 13 Matías Moroni, 14 Matías Orlando, 15 Román Miralles.
Replacements: 16 Santiago Iglesias Valdez, 17 Julián Montoya, 18 Tomás Ramírez, 19 Lucas Ponce, 20 Rodrigo Baez, 21 Martín Landajo, 22 Tomás Carrio, 23 Javier Rojas.
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