PREVIEW: Americas Championship, Round One
Uruguay will visit Canada and Chile will host Brazil in the other opening matches in the round-robin format.
The event, styled after the European edition which also starts on Saturday, will be played over five weeks with a champion decided on March 5.
While not a fully powered Pumas squad, fifth-ranked Argentina does boast rising young talent from the same developmental system that has made the South American nation a force in the sport.
"Except for some isolated exceptions, the players involved in Argentina XV are all from the system and everyone knows the basic structures of attack, defense, line-out and scrum," said Argentina national scrum coach Emiliano Bergamaschi, on the staff of coach Pablo Bouza.
"The training in Houston deepens the work. The aim of the game is no different to that of the Pumas."
The USA Eagles, ranked 16th, boast six players from European clubs for the opener at Houston, including flank and long-time captain Todd Clever and his English Premiership teammate at Newcastle, prop Eric Fry.
Cardiff Blues lock Cam Dolan and fullback Blaine Scully are back from the Celtic League, as is Glasgow Warriors lock Greg Peterson, while wing Taku Ngwenya is on hand from Biarritz in France.
"The contracted players overseas bring the necessary experience of professionalism from their club cultures and, as long as they bring the right enthusiasm with that awareness to their preparation and performance, this rubs off on the younger players," US coach John Mitchell said.
"This is such an essential part of the younger players' development with our most experienced players around."
Third in the rankings among the Americas line-ups is Canada at 19th, one spot ahead of Uruguay and five in front of Chile. Brazil rate 42nd.
Phil Mackenzie, a wing for England's top-level Sale Sharks, and Kyle Gilmour, a flank for Rotherham in England's second division, join a side of mainly uncapped players for Canada.
"I'm excited to be back with the Canadian team as we prepare for what is an important tournament," Gilmour said.
"It's always an honor to pull on the Canadian jersey and this is no different. These are critical games with ranking points on offer and we're looking forward to the challenge in front of us beginning Saturday."
Americas Rugby Championship Round One fixtures:
Saturday, February 6
Canada v Uruguay
(Westhills Stadium, Langford – Kick-off: 16.00; 21.00 UYT; 00.00 GMT Sunday, February 7)
Teams:
Canada: 15 Pat Parfrey, 14 Phil Mackenzie, 13 Mozac Samson, 12 Nick Blevins, 11 Dan Moor, 10 Gradyn Bowd, 9 Gordon McRorie, 8 Clay Panga, 7 Lucas Rumball, 6 Kyle Gilmour, 5 Callum Morrison, 4 Paul Ciulini, 3 Jake Ilnicki, 2 Ray Barkwill, 1 Hubert Buydens (captain).
Replacements:16 Eric Howard, 17 Djustice Sears-Duru, 18 Rob Brouwer, 19 Kyle Baillie, 20 Alistair Clark, 21 Michael Hamson, 22 Andrew Ferguson, 23 Duncan Maguire.
Uruguay: TBC
Referee: Juan Sylvestre (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Dave Smortchevsky (Canada), Harry Mason (Canada)
United States v Argentina
(BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston – Kick-off: 19.00; 22.00 ART; 01.00 GMT Sunday, February 7)
Teams:
United States Eagles: 15 Blaine Scully (captain), 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Chad London, 12 Lemoto Filikitonga, 11 Kingsley McGowan, 10 James Bird, 9 Niku Kruge, 8 David Tameilau, 7 Todd Clever, 6 Cam Dolan, 5 Greg Peterson, 4 Brodie Orth, 3 Chris Baumann, 2 Joseph Taufete'e, 1 Eric Fry.
Replacements: 16 Mike Sosene-Feagai, 17 Olive Kilifi, 18 James Hilterbrand, 19 Ben Landry, 20 Alec Gletzer, 21 JP Eloff, 22 Mike Te'o, 23 Jake Anderson.
Argentina: 15 Ramiro Moyano, 14 Matías Orlando, 13 Juan Cappiello, 12 Joaquín Paz, 11 Tomás Carrió, 10 Domingo Miotti, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Santiago Montagner, 7 Lautaro Bavaro, 6 Rodrigo Báez (captain), 5 Ignacio Larrague, 4 Marcos Kremer, 3 Felipe Arregui, 2 Santiago Iglesias, 1 Roberto Tejerizo.
Replacements: 16 Franco Brarda, 17 Gaspar Baldunciel, 18 Cristian Bartoloni, 19 Pedro Ortega, 20 José Deheza, 21 Lautaro Bazán Vélez, 22 Juan Novillo, 23 Juan Pablo Estellés.
Referee: Chris Assmus (Canada)
Chile v Brazil
(Kick-off: 19.10; 20.10 BRST; 22.10 GMT)
Teams:
Chile: TBC
Brazil: TBC
Referee: Joaquín Montes (Uruguay)
Agence France-Presse
