Rugby World Cup 2023 is rapidly approaching, with a few days until the opening game. Rugby.com.au examines every team's chances in France, looking at Uruguay.
Uruguay are looking to replicate their heroics from 2019 as they head to France full of confidence.
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‘Los Teros’ caused one of the upsets of the tournament when they defeated Fiji in Japan.
Since then, they have continued to build and qualified in style after defeating USA on aggregate.
The Uruguayans enter this World Cup with the same fearless attitude as four years earlier, finding them in one of the ‘Pools of Death'
Qualified as ‘Americas 1’ after winning the 2021 South American Championship, before defeating the USA 50-34
Uruguay have built nicely heading into this year’s World Cup.
They had mixed form to finish 2022, losing to Georgia and Tonga whilst enjoying a narrow win over Romania.
This changed heading into 2023, defeating neighbours Chile before gaining major momentum with a win over Pool A rivals Namibia.
Their preparations concluded with an impressive 33-13 win over Argentina XV.
Bayonne lock Manuel Leindekar and Castres scrum-half Santiago Arata were both named in Uruguay's 33-man World Cup squad on Monday.
The two Top 14 players are the most experienced in terms of top-flight club rugby with most of the squad being pulled from Montevideo-based Penarol who play in the Super Rugby Americas league.
Centres Andres Vilaseca and Nicolas Freitas both play for French second division side Vannes while fly-half Felipe Berchesi was in the same league with Dax until his contract ended in June.
Backs: Santiago Alvarez, Santiago Arata, Agustin Ormaechea, Felipe Etcheverry, Felipe Berchesi, Nicolas Freitas, Andres Vilaseca, Felipe Arcos Perez, Tomas Inciarte, Juan Manuel Alonso, Baltazar Amaya, Bautista Basso, Rodrigo Silva, Gaston Mieres, Ignacio Facciolo
Forwards: Diego Arbelo, Matias Benitez, Ignacio Peculo, Reinaldo Piussi, Mateo Sanguinetti , Facundo Gattas, German Kessler, Guillermo Pujadas, Felipe Aliaga, Ignacio Dotti, Manuel Leindekar, Manuel Ardao, Lucas Bianchi, Carlos Deus, Eric Dosantos, Santiago Civetta, Manuel Diana, Juan Manuel Rodriguez
Rodrigo Silva has been a stalwart of Uruguayan Rugby since his debut in 2012.
The 30-year-old holds the unique distinction of being able to cover scrum half, wing and fullback.
Silva was the hero during their World Cup qualifying run, scoring twice in the decisive 34-15 win over the USA and will play a major role in their quest for an upset victory.
Baltazar Amaya is a name familiar to Sevens fans, lighting up the circuit with his fast footwork.
The 24-year-old is one of several players to make the switch between the two formats, finding a spot nicely in their back three
Amaya lifts for the big occasion, which he showed in the Sevens playoff win over Tonga, with the World Cup providing the perfect stage to showcase his talent.
World Cup history
Played: 15
Wins: 3
Loses: 12
Best Finish: Group Stages (four)
2015: Group Stages
2011: DNQ
2007: DNQ
2003: Group Stages
This has to be treated as Uruguay’s Final if they want to build momentum from this tournament.
They’ll eye off Italy as an upset but it’s going to be a tough task, leaving this game in Lyon as thier best chance of an upset.
As mentioned, Uruguay got the win in their previous match-up in August, so they’ll back themselves to repeat history
Fri Sep 15 (5:00 AM): France v Uruguay, Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
Thu Sep 21 (1:45 AM): Italy v Uruguay, Stade de Nice, Nice
Thu Sep 28 (1:45 AM): Uruguay v Namibia, OL Stadium, Lyon
Fri Oct 6 (6:00 AM): New Zealand v Uruguay, OL Stadium, Lyon
