English Premiership side the Bristol Bears play host to the Argentina XV at Ashton Gate on Friday. The fixture is a club vs next-of-XV match-up. The players from both teams have the rare opportunity of playing this match during the November Internationals.
The Bristol Bears is missing players to international duty while the Argentina XV, despite being the next-of-XV on paper, is a youth selection based on leading players from Super Rugby Americas.
(3) – Nicolás D’Amorim, Santiago Pernas, Faustino Sánchez Valarolo
– Ellis Genge, Will Capon, Harry Thacker, Gabriel Oghre, George Kloska, Max Lahiff, Pedro Rubiolo, James Dun, Joe Batley, George Taylor, Steven Luatua, Fitz Harding, Santiago Grondona, Kofi Cripps, Ben Grondona, Viliame Mata, Harry Randall, Max Pepper, AJ MacGinty, Sam Worsley, Tom Jordan, James Williams, Toby Baker, Joe Jenkins, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Gabriel Ibitoye, Louis Rees-Zammit, Josh Carrington, Rich Lane, Benjamin Elizalde.
– The team is the official next-of-XV but has been selected with the intention of developing players.
- The match is the second of a two match tour for the Argentina XV. Game One was against Munster in Limerick, Ireland last weekend with the Irish province winning a thriller.
- John Edwards, Ollie Harris, and Nathan Langdon are on debut for the Bristol Bears.
- Bristol Bears Head Coach Pat Lam has named 12 Academy players in his 23 with 8 being in the starting line-up. Of them Victor Worsnip, Evan Morris and Ollie Harris were in Bristol’s u18’s last season.
- Bristol’s unavailable players include Pumas Pedro Rubiolo, Benjamín Grondona Santiago Grondona, Benjamín Elizalde and Matías Moroni in addition to Eagle AJ MacGinty.
- Changes to the Argentina XV pack see Rafael Garrido, Lorenzo Colidio and Facundo Cardozo replacing Matías Medrano, Lautaro Simes and Aitor Bildosola respectively.
- Agustín Fraga for Leonardo Gea Salim is the only change to the backline from that which faced Munster.
- Nicolás D’Amorim, Santiago Pernas and Faustino Sánchez Valarolo are capped Pumas. They all debuted for Argentina against Uruguay in Salta in July.
- Los Pumas Head Coach Felipe Contepomi will attend the match. He is a former Bristol player.
- Englishwomen Sarah Cox will referee the contest.
A spot of rain is forecast for Bristol on Friday evening. The conditions should not distract from an entertaining team between two groups of players who are taking the opportunity to press for more game-time. Bristol’s lengthily list of missing players has seen the inclusion of many academy players. The Argentina XV’s line-up should have more cohesion and be of a superior level. The Argentina XV are favorites to win in Bristol.
BRISTOL BEARS
15 Noah Heward, 14 Evan Morris, 13 Jack Bates, 12 Victor Worsnip, 11 Aidan Boshoff, 10 Mat Protheroe, 9 Sam Wolstenholme (capt.), Paddy Pearce, 7 Kenzie Jenkins, 6 Joe Owen, 5 Steele Barker, 4 Ethan Surrey, 3 Lovejoy Chawatama, 2 Tomas Gwilliam, 1 Sam Grahamslaw
Replacements: 16 Nathan Langdon, 17 Louie Trevett, 18 Jimmy Halliwell, 19 Will Ramply, 20 John Edwards, 21 Ellis Bevan, 22 Raff Weston, 23 Ollie Harris
ARGENTINA XV
15 Tobías Wade, 14 Santiago Pernas, 13 Agustín Fraga, 12 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 11 Mateo Soler, 10 Julián Hernández, 9 Alejo Sugasti, 8 Juan Cruz Pérez Rachel (capt.), 7 Facundo Cardozo, 6 Nicolás D’Amorim, 5 Federico Albrisi, 4 Lorenzo Colidio, 3 Francisco Moreno, 2 Leonel Oviedo, 1 Rafael Garrido
Replacements: 16 Matías Medrano, 17 Diego Correa, 18 Octavio Filippa, 19 Lautaro Simes, 20 Juan Pedro Bernasconi, 21 Estanislao Pregot, 22 Bautista Farisé, 23 Tomás Medina
Date: Friday, November 06
Venue: Ashton Gate, Bristol (UK)
Kickoff: 7:45pm (Local); 4:45pm (Argentina)
Weather Forecast: Light Rain; 13°C; wind S (18 km/h)
Broadcasts: Access Munster (for €10)
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant Referees: Harry Walbaum (England); Jonathan Healy (England)
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