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Uruguay have been boosted by the inclusion of fly half Felipe Berchesi to face Brazil. The French-based play-maker returns to Los Teros for the first time since November’s last-gasp away win over Romania.
In the absence of Berchesi Uruguay’s usual starting outside center, Juan Manuel Cat has been playing fly half. Cat’s performances have come with distinction to provide Uruguay with the answer to their question as to who can play as back-up to Berchesi at RWC 2019.
Uruguay are in a tough pool in this year’s RWC. They will have a demanding two opening fixtures against Fiji, and Georgia and are to play these matches with just three rest-days in between. It remains to be seen whether or not Los Teros will be at full-strength for both or not.
Games three and four for Uruguay are to be against Australia, and Wales. These matches will not provide Uruguay with big selection questions due to them being distributed in a balanced manner. Yet there is always injuries to consider to which Cat looms as a starting fly half if required.
Cat started at 10 in all four of Uruguay’s Americas Rugby Championship (ARC) matches thus far in 2019. With Andrés Vilaseca and Federico Favaro both in the side Cat would only kick one goal, doing so in the win over Canada in round one.
Vilaseca is one of four Major League Rugby (MLR) players on the roster to face Brazil on Saturday. He is to be joined by Santiago Arata, Ignacio Dotti, and Mateo Sanguinetti. Yet it is not all positive news for Uruguay as Diego Magno, Alejandro Nieto, and Juan Echeverría are on MLR duty. Added to this is the non-availability of Leandro Leivas, and Rodrigo Silva to injury.
