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Peñarol are competing without any specialist Uruguayan fly halves. The Uruguayan team is enjoying a strong season in the 2021 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR). After seven rounds Peñarol are in second position and have qualified for the Semi Finals. The team’s starting fly half in all matches has been the same: Martín Roger.
Roger has impressed for Peñarol. The 23-year-old is the leading point scorer in SLAR this season. Yet, his grip on the Peñarol 10 shirt is due to more factors than his form and performances in SLAR. Peñarol do not have any other player fit who is a specialist fly half.
The roster contains two specialists: Roger and Felipe Etcheverry. The latter was injured on the eve of the trip to Chile for rounds one to five of SLAR. Etcheverry suffered a sprained elbow one day before Peñarol traveled to Chile. His recuperation is ongoing.
Cover within the roster comes in the form of Rodrigo Silva. The RWC 2015 and 2019 winger has played for Uruguay at fly half in the past. It is, nonetheless a makeshift position. Moreover, were he to play at fly half for Peñarol it would delay what Uruguay need; it would hold back the blooding of a player in the position.
Felipe Etcheverry played for Uruguay at fly half in 2020. He filled in for the unavailable Felipe Berchesi. It was a test ahead of the all-important RWC 2023 qualifiers. Uruguay will compete in the South American finals in July 2021. Los Teros will be up against two qualifiers from the four round one competitors – Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Paraguay.
Mising in action for Uruguay and Peñarol is Juan Manuel Cat. He decided to put his career ahead of rugby in 2020. The decision contributed to Etcheverry’s selection at fly half for Uruguay. Whether or not this continues in 2021 is unclear. An additional possibility exists in the form of veteran scrum-half Agustín Ormaechea covering fly half. Santiago Arata’s hold on the 9 shirt and the form of Tomás Inciarte in the position for Peñarol suggest it is an option to consider. However, like playing Silva at fly half, it would be a makeshift solution.
