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A big win by New Zealand marked a disappointing end to an otherwise positive Rugby World Cup 2023 for Uruguay. Los Teros played their final match of the tournament on Thursday, losing 73-0 against the All Blacks in Lyon. The heavy loss came despite Uruguay having held New Zealand 0-0 in the opening quarter.
New Zealand and Uruguay both had disallowed tries early-on. The All Blacks had theirs denied for foul play. Two neck-rolls in the ruck area had perfectly good finishes called back. Uruguay were over in the left corner with Manuel Ardao scoring. The TMO confirmed no try for a foot in touch.
Uruguay’s other near moment also came early on in the contest. Veteran winger Gastón Mieres ran around defenders from outside his own 22 to pass to Rodrigo Silva near the All Blacks’ 22. From their play broke down with New Zealand recovering.
The All Blacks would not have problems finishing off their chances after the opening quarter. Eleven tries were scored in a clinical performance. New Zealand’s control of the lineout and scrum forced Uruguay to defend as gaps appeared in the defense.
Damian McKenzie was the first to score. From a 5 meters scrum the fullback ran an angle to go over. It was much the same five minutes later as this time Richie Mo’unga was in to the try zone from an attacking scrum.
Uruguay’s lineout malfunctioned and it hurt the South Americans badly. Quick hands and width from New Zealand culminated in MacKenzie tapping a pass infield for the flying Will Jordan to score his first of two tries for the match.
The fourth gave New Zealand the bonus point two minutes from half-time. It again came from a scrum with Cam Roigard scoring. The 26-0 half-time lead would be more than doubled in the second-half.
Replacement prop Fletcher Newell crossed five minutes into the half. Leicester Fainga’anuku followed with a hat-trick while McKenzie and Jordan both scored second tries as did replacement Tamaiti Williams.
What started promising for Uruguay ultimately became a blow-out victory for New Zealand. The All Blacks will now following France vs Italy with interest. Unless, there is a major upset, New Zealand are will join France in advancing from Pool A to the Quarter Finals.
Uruguay’s campaign ended on a sour note, but the South Americans played good rugby despite the scoreline. The campaign in Lille, Nice and Lyon was a strong indication of progress from prior World Cups. Uruguay ought to now look across the Rio de la Plata to play Los Pumas annually again.
SCORING
NEW ZEALAND (73)
Try – D McKenzie 2 (20′, 53′), R Mo’unga (25′), W Jordan 2 (33′, 65′), C Roigard (38′), F Newell (45′), L Fainga’anuku 3 (49′, 68′, 77′), T Williams (73′)
Con – R Mo’unga (21′, 26′, 34′, 50′, 54′); D McKenzie (66′, 69′); B Barrett (74′, 78′)
URUGUAY (0)
TEAMS
NEW ZEALAND
1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Samuel Whitelock, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sam Cane, 8 Luke Jacobson, 9 Cam Roigard, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 Jordie Barrett, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 14 Will Jordan, 15 Damian McKenzie
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Caleb Clarke
URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Germán Kessler, 3 Diego Arbelo, 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Manuel Leindekar, 6 Manuel Ardao, 7 Lucas Bianchi, 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Santiago Arata, 10 Felipe Etcheverry, 11 Nicolás Freitas, 12 Andrés Vilaseca, 13 Tomás Inciarte, 14 Gastón Mieres, 15 Rodrigo Silva
Replacements: 16 Guillermo Pujadas, 17 Matías Benítez, 18 Ignacio Péculo, 19 Juan Manuel Rodríguez, 20 Santiago Civetta, 21 Agustín Ormaechea 22 Felipe Berchesi, 23 Juan Manuel Alonso
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referees: Jordan Way (Australia); Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
