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Los Teros are in uncharted territory. Having qualified in February they have the luxury of almost a year’s extra preparation ahead of Rugby World Cup 2019 compared to 2015. A select group of players are on professional domestic contracts and are effectively guaranteed their spots leaving only a few reserve positions left and the final hierarchy to be decided by coach Esteban Meneses.
Their path to Pool D starts with the Americas Pacific Challenge, where their fringe players will have three chances to impress the selectors ahead of a four-match trip to Europe. The core team – minus a couple overseas professionals – is expected to play in the Americas Rugby Championship and then its into final preparations that should see some players participating in the South American Championship.
Uruguay will send its best-prepared to a World Cup but, as with the Eagles, achieving victory is far from a given. Their pool contains three top-10 sides in Wales, Australia, and Fiji. The fourth team is Georgia, currently five spots ahead at 13th on the official rankings. Los Teros will target this match to achieve a first World Cup win since 2003 – a 24-12 win against the Lelos in Sydney, Australia.
URUGUAY
| ## | NAME | CLUB | POS | CAPS |
FIRST CHOICE
| 1 | Mateo Sanguinetti | Los Cuervos | LH | 53 |
| 2 | Germán Kessler | Los Cuervos | HO | 40 |
| 3 | Mario Sagario | Carrasco Polo | TH | 71 |
| 4 | Ignacio Dotti | Los Cuervos | LO | 38 |
| 5 | Rodrigo Capó Ortega | Castres (FR) | LO | 41 |
| 6 | Juan Manuel Gaminara (c) | Old Boys | FL | 57 |
| 7 | Franco Lamanna | Perugia (IT) | FL | 42 |
| 8 | Alejandro Nieto | Champagnat | N8 | 62 |
| 9 | Santiago Arata | Old Christians | SH | 30 |
| 10 | Felipe Berchesi | Dax (FR) | FH | 29 |
| 11 | Nicolás Freitas | Carrasco Polo | WI / CE | 26 |
| 12 | Andrés Vilaseca | Old Boys | CE | 45 |
| 13 | Juan Manuel Cat | Old Boys | CE / FH | 20 |
| 14 | Leandro Leivas | Old Christians | WI | 71 |
| 15 | Rodrigo Silva | Carrasco Polo | FB / FH | 51 |
Nothing has changed since the end of June with only a trio of Uruguay XV matches since which have not altered the projected first choice side. Franco Lamanna, Nicolás Freitas, and Juan Manuel Cat have undergone surgery with Freitas set for the longest spell on the sidelines with a return for the 2019 ARC possible. Lamanna has returned to Italy where he will rejoin Perugia once recovered.
Mario Sagario has not been part of the professional group due to his own work commitments but should return in November. It’s unclear whether Rodrigo Capó Ortega will join up with the team for the European tour but the Castres captain looks to be looks to be on track for Japan after missing out on RWC 2015.
REPLACEMENTS
| 16 | Carlos Pombo | Old Boys | HO | 12 |
| 17 | Matías Benitez | Champagnat | LH | 30 |
| 18 | Juan Echeverría | Old Christians | TH | 42 |
| 19 | Manuel Leindekar | Oyonnax (FR) | LO | 8 |
| 20 | Manuel Diana | Old Christians | N8 / FL | 14 |
| 21 | Agustín Ormaechea | Mont-de-Marsan (FR) | SH | 41 |
| 22 | Joaquín Prada | Los Cuervos | CE | 45 |
| 23 | Gastón Mieres | Lobos | WI / FB | 62 |
Similarly there are no changes here. Agustín Ormaechea continues his fight to reclaim the starting scrumhalf spot from Santiago Arata but the latter remains the title holder for now. Ormaechea, for his part, has returned to Mont-de-Marsan and is playing well. To have two such players at a crucial position is a major boost to Los Teros.
Manuel Leindekar continues to be part of the Oyonnax Academy program and could force his way into the starting side if his physical conditioning continues to improve. Manuel Diana is another one to watch who is not far behind Franco Lamanna and Alejandro Nieto for a spot in the run-on side either at his preferred No8 or on the blindside flank.
TRAVELING RESERVES
| 24 | Guillermo Pujadas | Champagnat | LH / TH | – |
| 25 | Felipe Inciarte | Old Christians | TH / LH | 7 |
| 26 | Diego Magno | MVCC | LO / FL | 84 |
| 27 | Leandro Segredo | Old Christians | FL | 2 |
| 28 | Juan Diego Ormaechea | Carrasco Polo | N8 / FL | 24 |
| 29 | Tomás Inciarte | Old Christians | SH / CE | 4 |
| 30 | Andrés De León | Old Christians | FH | 3 |
| 31 | Federico Favaro | Old Christians | WI / FB | 21 |
As we get into the fringe group we do see some movement in recent months. Leandro Segredo and Juan Diego Ormaechea have been consistent selections for the Uruguay XV and each look to be headed towards a spot on the plane. Missing out at the moment are Rodolfo Garese and Gonzalo Soto Mera. Both are taller lineout options but have struggled somewhat with form. Their chance to make a statement could come in Montevideo next month.
Guillermo Pujadas is one a highly-rated Teritos graduate who is now being groomed to play across the front row. His continued development suggests that he is being earmarked for a spot in Japan with Facundo Gattas and 2015 World Cup veteran Carlos Arboleya possibly missing out but this is far from certain. Felipe Inciarte is similarly positioned well but under pressure from both Arboleya and the return of Juan Rombys to the national fold some five years after his last test cap.
Most interesting is the selection of Tomás Inciarte as an outside center with the Uruguay XV. It’s a position he also assumed with the Teritos but he has been seen as a scrumhalf with the senior side until now. If his spot was at all in question before, this versatility all but guarantees his position in the squad. In doing so it also calls into question the selection of Agustín Della Corte. A highly promising u20 graduate himself, he might now find himself outside the traveling team with Joaquín Prada and Nicolás Freitas both able to cover the midfield as well.
Benefiting from this change is Federico Favaro with an outside back needed more than a midfielder. Also jumping into the squad is Andrés De León, a specialist flyhalf and goal kicker who has recently pushed ahead of Germán Albanell for the No10 shirt with the Uruguay XV. If Meneses prefers a more versatile player, Manuel Blengio would be the logical choice with his test experience at both flyhalf and fullback.
NON-TRAVELING RESERVES
| 32 | Carlos Arboleya | Trébol | HO / TH | 68 |
| 33 | Facundo Gattas | Lobos | LH / HO | 20 |
| 34 | Juan Rombys | Trébol | TH | 22 |
| 35 | Diego Ayala | MVCC | LO | 20 |
| 36 | Rodolfo Garese | Carrasco Polo | FL | 12 |
| 37 | Gonzalo Soto Mera | Carrasco Polo | N8 / FL | 19 |
| 38 | Guillermo Lijtenstein | Trébol | SH | 37 |
| 39 | German Albanell | Old Boys | FH | 16 |
| 40 | Agustín Della Corte | Trébol | CE | 6 |
| 41 | Gastón Gibernau | Old Boys | WI / CE | 16 |
| 42 | Manuel Blengio | Old Christians | FB / FH | 18 |
The extended squad has seen some changes in the hierarchy but only one alteration in composition with Rombys returning at the expense of Diego de Pazos. Otherwise it’s hard to see players from outside this group breaking in to the World Cup side or even the backup group.
A small number of this year’s World Rugby u20 Trophy group might come into contention. Loose forwards Manuel Ardao and Santiago Civetta impressed, while flyhalf Juan Martín Cattivelli is surely not long for senior recognition. Manuel Portela has already represented the Uruguay XV though the midfielder still has some physical growth to fulfill before reaching test status.
Earning an elusive win at the World Cup isn’t necessarily a requirement for the team to display progress. This team is capable of playing an exciting brand of rugby and with several months of training still ahead they can surprise their more accomplished opponents. If Georgia are at all complacent there is an opportunity for an upset with Uruguay’s backs arguably superior. Otherwise the world can expect a dramatically improved team from the one that took the field in England three years ago.
A complete list of Uruguay’s senior player pool can be seen here.
