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Uruguay underlined their progress in today’s performance against Wales. The teams left the field at half time with the Six Nations Grand Slam winners leading 7-6.
As was the case against Fiji in Kamaishi Los Teros played an expansive brand of rugby on attack and had a defense game which was hard to break by moving the ball. Wales’ opening half saw just the one try to Nicky Smith with more coming in the second half with the Western British side playing a more direct, go-forward approach.
Smith’s try was converted by fullback Leigh Halfpenny. The 16th minute effort would be the only Welsh points until the 48th minute. In between the scores Felipe Berchesi landed two penalties for Uruguay.
Wales had opportunities to score additional tries though Uruguay proved to be on their game in defense as they held off a series of raids on three occasions. The ability to do so is testament to Uruguay’s progress since RWC 2015.
In the second half infringements would be dealt with stringently. Referee Angus Gardner showed flanker Santiago Civetta a yellow card and awarded Wales a penalty try. The double blow in the 65th minute was pivotal in the context of the match.
While a man down Uruguay show great grit to hit-back. Hooker Germán Kessler touched down in the 70th minute to make it a 21-13 scoreline.
Late tries to Tomos Williams and Gareth Davies followed to see Wales completing their bonus point win and finishing Pool D undefeated. It marked the first time in RWC history in which Wales has gone undefeated in the group phase.
Wales is to now travel a short distance from Kumamoto to Oita. They will play against France next Sunday in the third Quarter Final. For Uruguay RWC 2019 has concluded and the players will now return home with the tremendous scalp of a win over Fiji.
SCORING
URUGUAY (13)
Try: Kessler (70′)
Conversion: Berchesi (71′)
Penalty: Berchesi (21′, 38′)
WALES (35)
Try: Smith (16′), Adams (48′), Penalty Try (65′), T Williams (73′), G Davies (84′)
Conversion Leigh Halfpenny (17′, 49′, 74′, 85′)
TEAMS
URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Germán Kessler, 3 Diego Arbelo, 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Manuel Leindekar, 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara (capt.), 7 Santiago Civetta, 8 Alejandro Nieto, 9 Santiago Arata, 10 Felipe Berchesi, 11 Nicolás Freitas, 12 Andrés Vilaseca, 13 Juan Manuel Cat, 14 Leandro Leivas, 15 Gastón Mieres
Replacements: 16 Guillermo Pujadas, 17 Juan Echeverría, 18 Juan Pedro Rombys, 19 Diego Magno, 20 Manuel Diana, 21 Agustin Ormaechea, 22 Tomas Inciarte, 23 Rodrigo Silva
WALES
1 Nicky Smith, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Dillon Lewis, 4 Bradley Davies, 5 Adam Beard, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 Justin Tipuric (capt.), 8 Aaron Wainwright, 9 Aled Davies, 10 Rhys Patchell, 11 Hallam Amos, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 13 Owen Watkin, 14 Josh Adams, 15 Leigh Halfpenny
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Wyn Jones, 19 Jake Ball, 20 Ross Moriarty, 21 James Davies, 22 Tomos Williams, 23 Gareth Davies
