1
'Prepared to fight': Uruguay to fire 'last bullet' against All Blacks
By AAP
Facing New Zealand in the final match of their World Cup campaign is the perfect way for Uruguay to round out the tournament, Los Teros' captain Andres Vilaseca says.
Uruguay troubled France in their opening 27-12 loss to the tournament hosts, led Italy 17-7 at halftime before going down 38-17, and tasted victory in a 36-26 win over Namibia in Lyon last week.
Centre Vilaseca insisted Uruguay have a plan to take the game to New Zealand, who need a bonus-point win on Thursday to be guaranteed a quarter-final spot, but said the most important element of it was his side's attitude to the contest.
"This team is prepared to fight the All Blacks. When we can, where we can. It is our last bullet before our World Cup is over," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"I'll be happy if Uruguay fights everything and comes out empty."
Vilaseca said it was a dream to play New Zealand for the first time in a Test and that Los Teros had something special planned for when they faced the haka before the game.
"I love that they put out the best team possible," he said.
"For us, it is a unique opportunity and I am happy for the respect they have shown us."
Coach Esteban Meneses made seven changes to his starting lineup for Thursday's game at OL Stadium, largely reverting to the side that impressed against France and Italy.
Meneses dropped two of his try scorers from the Namibia win: Baltazar Amaya scored twice but made way for veteran Rodrigo Silva at fullback, while Gaston Mieres returned on the right wing in place of Bautista Basso.
Meneses also restored Tomas Inciarte to the centres alongside Vilaseca and made two changes to his back row, Manuel Diana returning at No.8 and Lucas Bianchi making his first start of the tournament at openside flanker.
"Everyone who has played has done so in a great way and it was really difficult to remove them to give other players a chance," Meneses said.
"But it is part of the competition that has been generated in this squad, and that is what has made Uruguay competitive in these three World Cup games."
Trending on RugbyPass
2
South Africa vs England player ratings | 2024 Autumn Nations Series
3
Ireland player ratings vs Argentina | 2024 Autumn Nations Series
4
Jake White: As England coach, I’d have been livid
5
Latest Comments
Yeah nar I pretty much agree with that sentiment, wasn't just about the lineout though.
Yeah, I think it's the future of SR, even TRC. Graham above just now posting about how good a night it was with a dbl header of ENGvSA and NZvFrance, and now I don't want to kick SA or Argentina out of TRC but it would be great if in this next of the woods 2 more top teams could come in to create more of these sort of nights (for rugby's appeal). Often Arg and SA and both travel here and you get those games but more often doesn't work out right.
Obviously a long way off but USA and Japan are the obvious two. First thing we need to do is get Eddie Jones kicked out of Japan so they can start improving again and then get a couple of US teams in SRP (even if one its just a US based and augmented Jaguares).
It will start off the whole conferences are crap debate again (which I will continue to argue vehemently against), but imagine a 6 team Pacific conference, Tokyo Sunwolves (drafted from Tokyo JRLO teams), Tokyo All Stars (made up of best remaining foreign players and overseas drafts), ALL Nihon (best of local non Tokyo based talent, inc China/Korea etc, with mainland Japan), a could of West Coast american franchises and perhaps a second self PI driven Hawai'i based team, or Jagaures. So I see a short NFL like 3 or 4 month comp as fitting best, maybe not even a full round, NZvAUSvPAC, all games taking place within a 6hr window. Model for NZ will definitely still require a competitive and funded NPC!
On the Crusaders, I liked last years ending with Grace on the bench (ovbiously form dependent but thats how it ended) and Lio-Willie at 8. I could have Blackadder trying to be a 7 but think balance will be used with him at 6 and Kellow as 7. Scott Barrett is an international 6 sized player. It is just NZ style/model that pushes him into the tight, I reckon he'd be a great loose player, and saders have Strange and Cahill as bigger players (plus that change could draw someone like Darry back). Same with Haig now, hes not grown yet but Barrett hight and been playing 6, now that the Highlanders have only chosen two locks he'll be playing lock, and that is going to change his growth trajectory massively, rather than seeing him grow like an International 6.
Go to commentsDan Carter is the leading points scorer and leading points per game person for a player with significant tests. 2s RWC winner and member of the games greatest ever team. It's not even close. The only question of GOAT for rugby is whether McCaw deserves it given Carter's numbers.
Go to comments