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Uruguay are above expectations for 2019. The results achieved on the field conclusively point to progress and they are actively seeing Los Teros being reevaluated as a Tier 2 side in terms of both actual and official status.
The URU have been highly strategic in their use of test matches. With World Rugby Rankings in mind fixtures have been drawn up specifically to be either test matches or non-capped games. These have seen a mixture of Uruguay facing ‘A’ sides and the Uruguay XV facing test teams.
In the recently completed Nations Cup Uruguay won all three matches to end the first half of 2018 well positioned. Yet none of the three matches were capped test matches. Uruguay’s opposition came in the form of the Fiji Warriors, Emerging Italy, and the Argentina XV.
Winning the title saw Uruguay finishing above expectations for the tournament. The ‘A’ sides of Fiji, Italy, and Argentina were, in theory sides who had all been expected to beat Los Teros.
It was a title to underline smart investment from World Rugby. With 2019 having been plagued by controversy Uruguay’s success has been a shining light. The players are all Uruguayan born and raised.
Uruguay’s World Ranking is 18th. Russia is 19th, Canada is 21st, and Namibia is 24th. Of them all are virtually assured of playing at RWC 2019, Russia joining Uruguay as having officially qualified thus far.
Protecting their ranking has been at the forefront of Uruguay policy. The recent Suraméricano 6 Naciones A did not see Los Teros playing but rather the Uruguay XV. The non-capped fixtures did not count towards World Rankings and Uruguay fell to a 22-20 home defeat against Chile.
The side that faced Chile was predominantly made up of fringe players though regular Teros Diego Magno, Joaquín Prada, and Nicolás Freitas all started.
The Uruguay XV would go on to be thoroughly outplayed by the Argentina XV, losing 64-15. The Argentina XV needed a big win after having been humiliated by Brazil the prior weekend. Of note is that involved for the Uruguay XV were 12 of the same players that in the 26-20 Nations Cup victory over the same side.
Starting for the Uruguay XV and Uruguay against the Argentina XV were Mateo Sanguinetti, Germán Kessler, Juan Echeverría, Ignacio Dotti, Juan Manuel Gaminara, Leandro Segredo, Juan Manuel Cat, Nicolás Freitas, Andrés Vilaseca, Joaquín Prada, Leandro Leivas, and Gastón Mieres.
One could view it as being a similar situation to Los Jaguares and Los Pumas. The players are the same but is the shirt? Regardless the overriding point of Uruguay’s progression in 2019 is professionalism.
With 15 home-based players now being professional rugby players there is a platform that previously did not exist. The fifteen names do not include notable names such as Manuel Diana, Mario Sagario, or Leandro Segredo. They will boost the roster as will French-based players Felipe Berchesi, Rodrigo Capó Ortega, Franco Lamanna, Manuel Leindekar, and Agustín Ormaechea.
All of a sudden Uruguay are going into a RWC a year ahead of time with 65% of their players as professionals.
The players are to have further match preparation in 2018. Additional non-capped fixtures will take place in the Americas Pacific Challenge in October. In the following month Los Teros will feature in the November Internationals.
Uruguay’s European tour is expected to see three matches. Confirmed is a game against Ulster in Northern Ireland on Friday November 09. Additional games are likely to be on the weekends of November 17 and 24, the former is expected to be in France against Fiji.
Facing Fiji would be a preview ahead of 2019. Uruguay has made a stated target for RWC 2019 – winning a pool match. Doing so will be a tough ask as Uruguay face Fiji, Georgia, Australia, and Wales in that order. World Rugby have put Uruguay in a highly demanding position of playing game’s one and two on September 25 and 29.
Three rest days between facing Fiji and Georgia is highly complex. Matters are not helped by Uruguay needing to travel from Kamaishi to Osaka for these matches. Both Fiji and Georgia are playing very good rugby at present and have highly reputable player rosters. Yet as shown against the Argentina XV on Sunday and against Canada earlier this year Uruguay are to be taken seriously.
