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Uruguay have named their team to play against Portugal in their first match of the World Rugby u20 Trophy. The host nation will be keen to get off to a winning start with all matches to be played at the Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo.
Headlining the team is Oyonnax academy second row Manuel Leindekar who appears in his second World Rugby u20 tournament. He will be the only player in the competition that reaches the 2-metre mark in height following the absence of Chile’s Javier Eissmann. Leindekar has already won four test caps and is regarded as one of the brightest forward prospects in South America.
Captaining the Teritos is another player who is capped at senior level, strong-running midfielder Agustín Della Corte, who made his test debut as a replacement in the World Rugby Nations Cup this past June. Both Leindekar and Della Corte are expected to have long international careers for Los Teros.
Alongside the duo are six further players who return from the 2016 u20 Trophy. Front rows Agustín Sosa, Yamandú Arburúas, Guillermo Pujadas, and Jaime Coll are joined by loose forward Santiago Civetta and flying winger Martín Fitipaldo. All are promising players with Arburuas, Fitipaldo, and Civetta held in particularly high regard. The latter has represented Uruguay at senior 7s level and remains eligible for the tournament next year.
The Pool B match is set for a noon kickoff, 11am Eastern. A live stream will be provided by World Rugby.
URUGUAY
1 Agustín Sosa, 2 Yamandú Arburúas, 3 Guillermo Pujadas, 4 Joaquín García, 5 Manuel Leindekar, 6 Manuel Ardao, 7 Juan Garese, 8 Santiago Civetta, 9 Juan Nicola, 10 Matías D’Avanzo, 11 Martín Fitipaldo, 12 Agustín Della Corte (capt.), 13 Manuel Portela, 14 Valentín Grille, 15 Alejo Piazza
Replacements: 16 Jaime Coll, 17 Reinaldo Piussi, 18 Matías Aboy, 19 Martín Darracq, 20 James McCubbin, 21 Juan Martín Cattivelli, 22 Juan Manuel Fernández
