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Uruguay will have to put the disappointment of failing to achieve a top-three finish behind them as they battle Hong Kong with 5th place at the World Rugby u20 Trophy on the line. Sunday’s match is not what the Teritos staff would have envisioned after submitting a competitive team with ideal preparation at Charrúa’s High Performance Center but they are not the only side with ambitious plans for the future.
Hong Kong have undoubtedly shown progress and the Junior Dragons embarrassed a hapless Romanian side in their final pool match. As a reward coach Stephen Dowse has opted for no changes to the match day squad. Their play revolves around star halfbacks Mark Coebergh and Paul Altier, with clean lineout ball provided by second rows Zach Baldwin and James Rivers.
The Teritos cannot contend with the height disadvantage in their air but they have a fearsome scrum largely on account of monstrous France-based prop Reinaldo Piussi. He is one of four changes to the pack that were beaten by Portugal.
Joaquín Jaunsolo returns at loosehead with Martín Darracq recalled at lock. Juan Garese moves into the second row and James McCubbin starts on the blindside flank. Maxime Sonneveld and Felipe Aliaga drop to the bench.
There are three changes the in backs, the most notable of which sees Juan Martín Cattivelli restored at flyhalf. His entry was too late to save the team against Portugal but he will be a comforting sight to the team as the playmaker. Juan Francisco Torres comes in on the wing with Baltazar Amaya at fullback.
Kickoff is set for 1pm local time, 7am Montevideo. A live stream will be provided by World Rugby.
HONG KONG
1 Dan Hood, 2 Man-Chun Tang, 3 Mikkel Christensen, 4 Zach Baldwin, 5 James Rivers, 6 Gregor Ramage, 7 Ollie Overman, 8 Jake Barlow, 9 Mark Coebergh (capt.), 10 Paul Altier, 11 Sam Down, 12 Alex Nisbet, 13 Kyle Kitney, 14 Shiven Dukhande, 15 Oliver Duffy
Replacements: 16 Takamasa Hoshiyama, 17 Callum Tam, 18 Siu-Fung Chau, 19 Hugo Darke-Christopher, 20 Chun-Yuen Law, 21 Matthew Wyatt, 22 Pat Laidler, 23 James Gostick
URUGUAY
1 Joaquín Jaunsolo, 2 Emiliano Faccennini, 3 Reinaldo Piussi, 4 Juan Garese, 5 Martín Darracq, 6 Manuel Ardao, 7 James McCubbin, 8 Santiago Civetta (capt.), 9 Alfonso Cat, 10 Juan Martín Cattivelli, 11 Mateo Viñals, 12 Manuel Portela, 13 Valentín Grille, 14 Juan Francisco Torres, 15 Baltazar Amaya
Replacements: 16 Nicolás Buysan, 17 Francisco Martirena, 18 Ignacio Peculo, 19 Joaquín García, 20 Felipe Aliaga, 21 Maxime Sonneveld, 22 Matías D’Avanzo, 23 Alfonso Costa, 24 César Riviere, 25 José Iruleguy, 26 Juan Nicola
Date: Sunday, September 9
Venue: Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Kickoff: 13:00 local (03:00 Pacific, 06:00 Eastern, 07:00 Montevideo)
Broadcasts: World Rugby
