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Bucharest, Romania will be the setting for a test match between two Rugby World Cup 2023 competitors on Saturday. Uruguay face Tonga at the beautiful Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf. Both teams go in to the match having registered wins last weekend.
Uruguay produced a notable away win over Romania. It was a come-from-behind victory with Baltazar Amaya scoring two second half tries. Tonga produced a powerful performance to defeat Chile also in Bucharest.
Tonga and Uruguay are very different teams. Their styles of rugby differ as do their exposure to professional rugby. Uruguay has professional rugby; Peñarol are the current South American champions. The team provides a solid base from which Los Teros are far more solid whenm compared to teams from past World Cup cycles.
Tonga is highly reliant on foreign players of heritage. In addition, Tonga does not have high performance; instead, Tonga indirectly has professionalism in the form of Moana Pacifica, a team based in Auckland, New Zealand. Moana Pacifica is dominated by diapora Samoan and Tongan players. Changes to player eligibility are another factor. Tonga now has access to and is fielding former Wallabies and All Blacks.
Former All Black Vaea Fifita starts at flanker for Tonga against Uruguay. He previously started for New Zealand against Argentina in Buenos Aires in July, 2019. Former All Black Augustine Pulu starts at scrum-half, former All Blacks George Moala and Malakai Fekitoa will play in the centers.
New Zealanders Zane Kapeli, Sam Moli, Ben Tameifuna, William Havili and Anzelo Tuitavuki also all start for Tonga. Left winger Solomone Kata previously played rugby league for both New Zealand and Tonga. Australian Afusipa Taumoepeau starts at fullback.
Unlike Tonga, Los Teros are a team of homegrown players. All 23 of Uruguay’s team to face Tonga were born and raised in Uruguay. All are products of the domestic system. Captain Andrés Vilaseca is the only starting name presently playing abroad.
Confidence in the players can be seen with regular starting hooker Germán Kessler named on the bench. Guillermo Pujadas will start in his place. The uncapped Reinaldo Piussi will debut covering tight head while Felipe Aliaga makes his comeback after missing 2022 tet duty through injury.
Manuel Leindekar and Felipe Berchesi are back in France. This sees Eric Dosantos starting and Felipe Etcheverry moving from fullback to fly half. Another changes sees Manuel Ardao moving from flanker to N8. There will be punch on the bench with Manuel Diana waiting in the wings.
Wingers Juan Manuel Alonso and Baltazar Amaya are two instances of new talent since RWC 2019. The decision to start both underlines Uruguay’s progress under the SLAR model.
TEAMS
TONGA
1 David Lolohea, 2 Sam Moli, 3 Ben Tameifuna (capt.), 4 Halaleva Fifita, 5 Tanginoa Halaifonua, 6 Vaea Fifita, 7 Solomone Funaki, 8 Zane Kapeli, 9 Augustine Pulu, 10 William Havili, 11 Solomone Kata, 12 Georga Moala, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 14 Anzelo Tuitavuki, 15 Afusipa Taumoepeau
Replacements: 16 Sefo Sakalia, 17 Tau Koloamatangi, 18 Joe Apikotoa, 19 Steve Mafi, 20 Sione Havili Talitui, 21 Manu Paea, 22 Otumaka Mausia, 23 Fetuli Paea
URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Guillermo Pujadas, 3 Ignacio Peculo, 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Eric Dosantos, 6 Lucas Bianchi, 7 Santiago Civetta, 8 Manuel Ardao, 9 Tomás Inciarte, 10 Felipe Etcheverry, 11 Juan Manuel Alonso, 12 Andrés Vilaseca (capt.), 13 Felipe Arcos Pérez, 14 Baltazar Amaya, 15 Rodrigo Silva
Replacements: 16 Germán Kessler, 17 Juan Echeverría, 18 Reinaldo Piussi, 19 Diego Magno, 20 Felipe Aliaga, 21 Manuel Diana, 22 Santiago Álvarez, 23 Juan Zuccarino
Date: Saturday, November 19
Kick-Off: 2:00pm (RO); 9:00pm (UY)
Venue: Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf (Bucharest, RO)
Referee: Craig Evans (UK)
Assistant Referees: Anthony Woodthorpe (UK); Luc Ramos (FR)
TMO: Sean Brickell (UK)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
N/A
