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With vastly more rugby for Uruguay’s leading domestic-based players and Uruguay happening to have far more professionals the roster for RWC 2019 will see some tough choices and close selections.
This has been evident in 2019 in the Americas Rugby Championship, and Sudamérica 6 Naciones A. With the Nations Cup just around the corner the latest edition of World Cup Watch – Uruguay is an important one. It will not only signify which players are best placed to make the RWC roster but also give readers an opportunity to follow specific players in the Nations Cup itself.
RWC 2019 will be highly demanding for Uruguay yet the pressure is to be less than that of 2015. This is due to more than Georgia substituting England as the only change in pool opposition, as Uruguay today has players far better prepared for the demands of a Rugby World Cup.
URUGUAY
| ## | NAME | CLUB | POS | CAPS |
FIRST CHOICE
| 1 | Mateo Sanguinetti | Houston (USA) | LH | 59 |
| 2 | Germán Kessler | Los Cuervos | HK | 45 |
| 3 | Juan Echeverría | Austin (USA) | TH | 47 |
| 4 | Manuel Leindekar | Oyonnax (FR) | LO | 10 |
| 5 | Rodrigo Capó Ortega | Castres (FR) | LO | 41 |
| 6 | Ignacio Dotti | NOLA (USA) | FL / LO | 43 |
| 7 | Franco Lamanna | Darlington Mowden Park (UK) | FL | 44 |
| 8 | Alejandro Nieto | Houston (USA) | N8 | 67 |
| 9 | Santiago Arata | Houston (USA) | SH | 35 |
| 10 | Felipe Berchesi | Dax (FR) | FH | 32 |
| 11 | Nicolás Freitas | Carrasco Polo | WI | 30 |
| 12 | Andrés Vilaseca | Austin (USA) | CE | 51 |
| 13 | Juan Manuel Cat | Old Boys | CE / FH | 27 |
| 14 | Leandro Leivas | Toronto (CA) | WI | 74 |
| 15 | Rodrigo Silva | Austin (USA) | FB | 54 |
The projected starting line-up has twelve foreign-based players. This represents tremendous progress and indicates the growing reputation of Uruguay as a developing rugby country.
Compared to the previous edition of Rugby World Cup Watch – Uruguay the current selection has three changes. They all come in the forwards, specifically at tight head prop, second-row, and flanker.
At tight head Juan Echeverría has been elevated from the bench to now be the projected starter. He does so in place of Mario Sagario who announced his retirement.
A combination of the strength of Uruguay in the second-row together with NOLA Gold regularly playing Ignacio Dotti at flanker has been taken into account in the projected starting line-up. Manuel Leindekar replaces Dotti at lock with the NOLA player moving to flanker.
It is a contentious decision as it means that regular captain, Juan Manuel Gaminara is now out of the starting line-up. Putting that aside to consider who Uruguay will be playing against the added size of Dotti on the flank makes added sense.
The backs are unchanged though the form of Gastón Mieres for the Toronto Arrows very much makes it a close call. The Austin Elite have used Rodrigo Silva mainly at fly half though Americas Rugby News firmly believes he is a fullback who can cover wing but he is not in the conversation for fly half.
REPLACEMENTS
| 16 | Facundo Gattas | Hindú (AR) | HK | 25 |
| 17 | Matías Benitez | Champagnat | LH | 31 |
| 18 | Juan Pablo Rombys | Trébol | TH | 27 |
| 19 | Diego Magno | Houston (USA) | LO | 88 |
| 20 | Juan M Gaminara | Old Boys | FL | 64 |
| 21 | Agustín Ormaechea | Mont de Marsan (FR) | SH | 42 |
| 22 | Joaquín Prada | Los Cuervos | CE | 52 |
| 23 | Gastón Mieres | Toronto (CA) | FB | 67 |
Facundo Gatas takes over from Carlos Pombo as the replacement hooker. With Pombo not having played for Uruguay since June 2018 the hierarchy has changed with others now ahead of him.
Additional changes to the bench see Juan Pablo Rombys in for Etcheverría at tight head; Diego Magno covering lock; and Juan Manuel Gaminara named ahead of Manuel Diana as the replacement back-row option.
The replacement backs are unchanged from that projected in the prior edition of World Cup Watch – Uruguay.
TRAVELING RESERVES
| 24 | Manuel Ardao | Old Christians | HK / FL | 1 |
| 25 | Guillermo Pujadas | Champagnat | TH / HK | 5 |
| 26 | Leandro Segredo | Old Christians | FL | 7 |
| 27 | Manuel Diana | Old Christians | N8 | 19 |
| 28 | Tomás Iniciarte | Old Christians | SH | 10 |
| 29 | Agustín Della Corte | Trébol | CE | 8 |
| 30 | Federico Favaro | Old Christians | WI | 27 |
| 31 | Felipe Etcheverry | Carrasco Polo | FB | – |
U20’s star Manuel Ardao came through the system as a back-rower though is now playing hooker. He makes the traveling reserves as Uruguay’s third choice hooker. Based on the match dates, and fixtures awaiting Uruguay in Japan taking three hookers is probable.
Leandro Segredo has been retained and joins Manuel Diana as back-row cover. There is no second-rower due to three being in the starting formation and Diego Magno on the bench.
Named as the traveling reserve fullback is newcomer Felipe Etcheverry. He is uncapped but impressed in for the Uruguay XV in the Sudamérica 6 Naciones A to merit inclusion.
NON-TRAVELING RESERVES
| 32 | Carlos Pombo | Old Boys | HK | 12 |
| 33 | Felipe Inciarte | Old Christians | LH | 7 |
| 34 | Faustino Etchegorry | Old Boys | TH | – |
| 35 | Felipe Aliaga | Ceibos | LO | – |
| 36 | Santiago Civetta | Old Boys | FL | 1 |
| 37 | Juan D Ormaechea | Carrasco Polo | FL | 29 |
| 38 | Tomás Ubilla | Los Ceibos | SH | – |
| 39 | Matías Davanzo | Old Boys | FH | – |
| 49 | Alfonso Costa | Carrasco Polo | CE | – |
| 41 | Juan P Costabile | Old Christians | WI | – |
| 42 | Manuel Blengio | Old Christians | FB / FH | 21 |
The non-traveling reserves are the next likely player per position. Of them Juan Diego Ormaechea is the most likely to make the roster. Both he and Santiago Civetta are unlucky to miss out on the projected 31-man squad.
Six of the remaining names are uncapped but have all demonstrated themselves for the Uruguay XV. Alfonso Costa is one name who may yet be included.
A complete list of Uruguay’s senior player pool can be seen here.
