November Internationals Preview – Uruguay

This year’s November Internationals marks an important change – Uruguay’s involvement. Having long sought a place at the table Los Teros have until now been left out of the conversation in November. No multiple-test tours have ever occurred previously with them instead lucky get one game. This month history will be made with a proper three-match European tour that should prove a significant boost to their chances of qualification for the 2019 World Cup.

 

2016 FORM

2015 was a year of progress and lessons for Uruguay. Los Teros were happy to be back in the World Cup but had an extremely tough assignment against Australia, England, Fiji, and Wales. The win-less campaign was far better than many had feared. Uruguay conceded fewer points in all matches than had been expected pre-tournament.

A year on and Los Teros are entering November as an improved team. Uruguay has played much more rugby and the players have had ever-improving training facilities. In the inaugural Americas Rugby Championship Uruguay defeated Brazil, Chile, and the USA. This made it a successful campaign.

Additional matches against Brazil, Chile, and the Argentina XV followed. Uruguay performed well to win the two capped matches, but were not so fortunate in June. Uruguay’s three matches in the Nations Cup in Bucharest saw two losses and one win. Los Teros nonetheless deserve credit for responding to their appalling performance against Romania to go on to defeat Spain.

 

HOW THEY MATCH UP

The hot topic of World Rankings includes Uruguay. Los Teros players and management have been vocal in the importance of being in the World’s Top 20. World Rugby officials have made no secret of the fact that to obtain funding a union needs to (a) demonstrate the organizational means of going forward and (b) win matches.

The November tour sees Uruguay having ticked the developmental box. World Rugby is extremely pleased with progress made at the Estadio Charrúa. Having been called a model for others to follow, Uruguay is a welcome project and has been granted Tier 2 status until 2019. The team now needs wins in Europe to completely satisfy World Rugby.

Uruguay is presently 20th in the world. Opponents Romania, Spain, and Germany are ranked 16th, 23rd, and 26th respectively. If Los Teros fail to win they will fall, it is really that simple. The pressure is on and Uruguay are targeting victories.

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Of Uruguay’s 28-man roster only three play abroad. Herein lies the importance of the High Performance Center and of increased international competition. Perhaps scouts will agree that Uruguay has players suited to playing in Europe professionally and will sign some based on form this month.

Perhaps the player who enhanced his reputation the most at the World Cup was Mario Sagario. The tighthead prop was highly combative in the scrum, and when subbed off the difference for Los Teros was noticeable. In general play he proved to be a quality athlete too, and he was subsequently signed by Munster where would spend the rest of the European season. He has now returned home and has been handed the captaincy for November while previous leaders Carlos Arboleya and Juan Manuel Gaminara are only just returning to the side.

In the matches and, indeed, years prior to England 2015 Diego Magno had been first choice at flanker. This changed with Matías Beer starting all four matches during the World Cup. Beer will play no part in November but Magno is unlikely to fill his boots, making a successful transition to the second row. While he lacks genuine international height he has bulked up in size has proved effective as a lineout option to go with his obvious strengths as a ball carrier and supported player. Still only 27, only Arboleya has more caps in the team.

While Gaminara has been away a new flanker has been making a name for himself in the form of floppy-haired Joaquín Dell’Acqua. Uruguay have made a habit of selecting small but dynamic players on the side of the scrum and Dell’Acqua has certainly not lacked in that department. Very quick across the ground and not shy to throw himself about, he will compete for a starting role in the absence of incumbents Beer and Gonzalo Campomar.

Back play for Los Teros will be suitably centered around star halfback duo Agustín Ormaechea and Felipe Berchesi and the return of versatile Jerónimo Etcheverry also gives them options, but with established midfield pairing Andrés Vilaseca and Joaquín Prada both unavailable head coach Esteban Meneses will look to youngster Nicolás Freitas to take another step forward. The 23-year-old has a classic centre’s build with strong hips and has been groomed in the national age grade programs for several years. With a well-rounded skill set and a strong showing in the Americas Pacific Challenge, Freitas looks ready to make a claim for a long-term position in the first choice side.

 

VERDICT

Uruguay will enter as favorites against Spain and Germany. Rugby World Cup experience, results and World Rankings all give Los Teros the advantage in these matches. The match against Romania is different with the Oaks entering as firm favorites. The South Americans will target a return of two wins and one loss this month.

 

FIXTURES

DATE	LOCAL	URU	OPPONENT	LOCATION
Sat, Nov 12	17:45	14:45	vs Germany	Stadion am Bornheimer Hang, Frankfurt
Sat, Nov 19	16:00	12:00	vs Spain	Estadio Ciudad de Málaga, Málaga
Sat, Nov 26	18:00	15:00	vs Romania	Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest

 

SQUAD

NAME	POS	HGT	WGT	DOB	CAPS	CLUB
Echeverría, Juan	PR	1.75 5-9	114 250	Oct 9 1991	17	Old Christians
Jiménez, Francisco	PR	1.85 6-1	132 290	Jan 26 1990	11	Champagnat
Sagario, Mario	PR	1.86 6-1	116 255	Jun 29 1986	55	Carrasco Polo
Sanguinetti, Mateo	PR	1.86 6-1	105 230	Jul 26 1992	28	Los Cuervos
Secco, Ignacio	PR	1.80 5-11	107 235	May 28 1989	6	Trébol Paysandú
Arboleya, Carlos	HO	1.73 5-8	110 240	Jul 23 1985	62	Trébol Paysandú
Chamyan, Marcos	HO	1.78 5-10	90 200	Feb 9 1996	–	P.S.G.
Gattás, Facundo	HO	1.83 6-0	112 245	Jul 2 1995	9	Lobos
Ayala, Diego	LO	1.99 6-6	115 255	Feb 17 1989	4	M.V.C.C.
Dotti, Ignacio	LO	1.95 6-5	105 230	Aug 18 1994	12	Los Cuervos
Magno, Diego	LO	1.90 6-3	106 235	Apr 27 1989	61	M.V.C.C.
Lamanna, Franco	FL/LO	1.88 6-2	103 225	Oct 5 1991	30	Pro Recco (IT)
Dell’Acqua, Joaquín	FL	1.81 5-11	90 200	Jul 18 1993	2	M.V.C.C.
Gaminara, Juan Manuel	FL	1.71 5-7	95 210	May 1 1989	36	Old Boys
Hernández, Santiago	FL	1.83 6-0	92 200	May 18 1992	–	Carrasco Polo
Soto, Gonzalo	N8	1.92 6-4	101 220	Feb 10 1995	5	Carrasco Polo
Arata, Santiago	SH	1.74 5-9	73 160	Sep 2 1996	8	Old Christians
Lijtenstein, Guillermo	SH	1.69 5-6	72 160	Sep 14 1990	26	Trébol Paysandú
Ormaechea, Agustín	SH	1.76 5-9	83 180	Mar 8 1991	28	Mont-de-Marsan (FR)
Berchesi, Felipe	FH	1.78 5-10	80 175	Dec 4 1991	16	Carcassonne (FR)
Blengio, Manuel	FH	1.84 6-0	78 170	Apr 28 1994	13	Old Christians
Cat, Juan Manuel	FH/CE	1.78 5-10	83 180	Sep 6 1996	–	Old Boys
Freitas, Nicolás	CE	1.79 5-10	92 200	Jul 3 1993	9	Carrasco Polo
Gibernau, Santiago	CE/WI	1.78 5-10	90 200	May 15 1988	35	Carrasco Polo
Daverio, Mauro	WI	1.80 5-11	95 210	Dec 22 1990	3	M.V.C.C.
Rocco, Andres	WI	1.76 5-9	78 170	Jun 29 1994	4	Old Boys
Etcheverry, Jerónimo	FB/FH	1.78 5-10	85 185	Jan 11 1988	43	Carrasco Polo
Silva, Rodrigo	FB	1.82 6-0	86 190	Nov 2 1992	27	Carrasco Polo