For the first time ever, Brazil play host to Hong Kong on Saturday. The test match is to be the second meeting between Brazil and Hong Kong at the Senior Men’s level. The South American no 4 vs Asia no 2 clash will be played in São Paulo.
Hong Kong enter the match full of confidence. The Asia no 2 were very impressive against Paraguay in Asunción. The 80-12 victory was a solid statement. It was also a dream turn-around after Chile had been in total control against Hong Kong in the opening half of their win one week earlier. It is not dissimilar to Hong Kong’s results against the USA in 2022; the Eagles were 49-7 winners.
The match is Brazil’s first of 2024. The most recent Brazilian fixtures were in late 2023. Brazil did not have a good series at La Vila Cup in Spain. Os Tupis lost 40-15 against Canada and 48-3 against the USA. The loss against the USA was frustrating for all involved; a bizarre referee decision in the second half left Brazil down in the second half.
| LINE-UP CHANGES |
– First Test Match of 2024
1 Rory Cinamond replaces James Holmes
2 Alexander Post replaces Calum Scott
3 Zan Cinamond replaces Faizal Solomona Penesa
4 Kyle Sullivan replaces Jamie Pincott
5 Callum McCullouch replaces Patrick Jenkinson
6 Joshua Hristich moves from 8; replaces Tyler McNutt
7 James Sawyer replaces Pierce MacKinlay-West
8 Luke van der Smit replaces Pat Joshua Histich
10 Matteo Avitabile replaces Gregor McNeish
14 Sebastian Brien replaces Charles Higson-Smith
| NOTES |
- This will be the first match between Brazil and Hong Kong since 2011 and second overall.
- Hong Kong have made 9 starting chances and 1 positional shift.
- The most capped Brazilian player of all-time, Moisés Duque returns after a hiatus.
- The Brazilian team is dominated by Cobras players including captain Cleber Dias.
- Duque and Matheus Rocha play in Portugal and Leonel Moreno plays in Italy.
- Neither team has competed at a Men’s World Cup. Both could debut in 2027 with expansion to 24 teams.
- Brazil is ranked 29th in the World Rankings; Hong Kong is 24th.
- The match sees an 100% South American team of officials. Second generation Argentine referee Pablo De Luca will be the man in charge.
| PREDICTION |
It will be a São Paulo winter day on Saturday. This means afternoon temperatures in the low twenties with plenty of sun, no rain and light winds. This will encourage attractive rugby from both teams. Hong Kong have rotated throughout the tour while Brazil have been preparing for there opportunity. Brazil and Hong Kong’s results vs the USA Chile and Paraguay in 2022-2024 suggest that a very close contest is plausible. ARN projects a Brazil victory by +2 points.
| LINEUPS |
BRAZIL
1 João Lucas Marino, 2 Endy Willian Pinheiro, 3 Matheus Rocha, 4 Ben Donald, 5 Gabriel Oliveira, 6 Cleber Días (capt.), 7 Matheus Cláudio, 8 André Arruda, 9 Felipe Gonçalves, 10 João Amaral, 11 Ariel Rodrigues, 12 Lorenzo Massari Temer, 13, 14 Robert Teório, 15 Lucas Tranquez
Replacements: 16 David Muller, 17 Levy Marinho, 18 Leonel Moreno, 19 Gabriel Paganini, 20 Adrio de Melo, 21 Maiki Lemes, 22 Luca Spago, 23 Moisés Duque
HONG KONG
1 Rory Cinammond, 2 Alexander Post, 3 Zac Cinnamond, 4 Kyle Sullivan, 5 Callum McCullouch, 6 Joshua Hristich (capt.), 7 James Sawyer, 8 Luke van der Smit, 9 Jack Combes, 10 Matteo Avitabile, 11 Paul Altier, 12 Ben Axten-Burrett, 13 Nathan de Thierry, 14 Sebastian Brien, 15 Matthew Worley
Replacements: 16 Callum Scott, 17 James Holmes, 18 Faizal Solomona Pensa, 19 Jamie Pincott, 20 Tyler McNutt, 21 Pierce MacKinlay-West, 22 Bryn Philips, 23 Harry Sayers
| MATCH DETAILS |
Date: Saturday, July 20
Venue: Estadio Nicolau Alayon, São Paulo (BR)
Kickoff: 3:30pm (BR)
Weather Forecast: Sunny; 24 (Celsius); Wind 10 km/h
Broadcasts: NSports
| MATCH OFFICIALS |
Referee: Pablo Deluca (Argentina)
Assistants: Simón Larrubia (Argentina); Federico Solari (Argentina)
TMO: Victor Hugo Barboza (BR)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (1): Hong Kong 1, Brazil 0, STREAK Hong Kong +1
December 13, 2011 – Hong Kong 37-03 Brazil (Dubai, UAE)
The post July Tests 2024: Brazil vs Hong Kong – ARN Guide appeared first on Americas Rugby News.
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