Historic Americas Rugby Championship set for kick-off

History will be made today as the Americas Rugby Championship kicks off, bringing together the best international teams from north and south America for five rounds of compelling action.

With the RBS 6 Nations and European Nations Cup also taking place, the coming weeks will deliver an unprecedented volume of international rugby with World Rugby Rankings places at stake.

You can follow all the Americas Rugby Championship action at @AmericasRCh

CHILE V BRAZIL (Saturday)

Having seen their respective sevens side recently taste success by booking their place in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series qualifier in Hong Kong Sevens, Chile and Brazil will be hoping to kick off their Americas Rugby Championship campaigns on a winning note in what is a shootout between the fifth and sixth seeds. On paper, this would look to be the most winnable game for either country.

They first met in 1951 and Chile have been the dominant force ever since, winning 17 and losing only two of the previous 20 fixtures. There has been one draw. Last time out, Chile won 32-3 in Santiago. In 2004, Brazil recorded their first win over Chile for 23 years: 24-16 in Sao Paulo.

In brief

Former international Elias Santillan takes charge of Chile for the first time

Brazil have named twins, Felipe and Daniel Sancery, and David Harvey, the son of Australian cricketing legend Neil, in their backline

Chile can call upon two brothers of their own who ply their trade overseas in Francisco and Sergio de la Fuente

Rankings predictor

Defeat in Santillan's first match in charge could cost Los Condores as many as three World Rugby Ranking points – and a drop of six places to 30th. They are unable to improve their position regardless of how well they fare, because they are currently 18 places higher in the rankings than the Tupis. Brazil, however, would jump seven places to 35th in the world if they upset the odds and win well in Santiago.

CANADA V URUGUAY (Saturday)

Two RWC 2015 sides meet at the Westhills Stadium in Langford. They first met in 1995 and Canada have won all bar one of the previous eight meetings. Uruguay's solitary win came in 2002 when they prevailed 25-23 at the River Plate Stadium in Montevideo. The most recent clash was at the 2010 Churchill Cup, RWC 2015 star DTH van der Merwe scoring twice in a 48-6 win.

In brief

Los Teros will be led by Juan Manuel Gaminara following the retirement of Santiago Vilaseca. The combative flanker is one of 15 players that took part in Uruguay's Rugby World Cup 2015 campaign

Both have new head coaches in place: Francois Ratier on an interim basis for Canada and Argentinian Esteban Meneses for Uruguay

Watch out for Uruguay's relatively new half-back combination of Guillermo Lijtenstein and Rodrigo Silva, who step up in the absence of first choice duo Agustín Ormaechea and Felipe Berchesi

Led by Hubert Buydens, Canada have named six debutants in their starting XV: Paul Ciulini, Lucas Rumball, Clay Panga, Gradyn Bowd, Dan Moor and Mozac Samso

Uruguay will reach 6,000 points conceded in their 65-year history of playing tests if they ship 18 against Canada.

Rankings predictor

Uruguay start the weekend in 20th place, one place below their hosts Canada. Any form of win for Los Teros would see them wipe out the fractional points difference (0.54) between the two. They could even move up to 17th if Portugal overturn Romania in Cluj.

Defeat to Uruguay would cost Canada their place in the world's top 20 ranked nations for the first time. It is possible for them to fall as low as 22nd. However, win and the Canucks could move up one place to 18th.

USA V ARGENTINA XV (Saturday)

The only match not to count towards the rankings in the opening weekend, given it is an Argentina XV side and not the full national side, this encounter in Houston will still be an interesting one to watch with the array of up-and-coming talent on show. It will also be the first time that former All Blacks coach John Mitchell takes charge of the Eagles since being named as Mike Tolkin's replacement.

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