Rugby World Cup – Uruguay profile: Full squad, head coach, key player, prediction and odds
Uruguay head to their fourth Rugby World Cup desperately looking for a first group stage win since 2003.
After a single victory at each of their first two tournaments, in 1999 and 2003, Uruguay lost all four of their games in the 2015 edition, shipping a combined 226 points in the process.
However, having been drawn alongside Australia, Wales, Fiji and Georgia in Pool D, the side's hopes of clinching a win look slim at best.
Yet, Uruguay have assembled a cohesive unit over the last four years, with plenty of experience in the pack and the backs, while America’s Major League Rugby has offered an experience of a different rugby culture and burgeoning competition for a number of Esteban Meneses’ squad - and there's no doubt they'll be better for it.
While a win looks beyond Los Teros, improved defensive showings as a collective would represent progress, particularly up against a tough schedule with their first three games coming in eleven days.
Squad
Forwards: Facundo Gattas, Joaquín Jaunsolo, Mateo Sanguinetti, Germán Kessler, Guillermo Pujadas, Diego Arbelo, Juan Echeverría, Juan Pedro Rombys, Ignacio Dotti, Manuel Leindekar, Diego Magno, Franco Lamana, Manuel Ardao, Santiago Civetta, Manuel Diana, Juan Manuel Gaminara (capitán), Juan Diego Ormaechea, Alejandro Nieto
Backs: Agustín Ormaechea, Santiago Arata, Felipe Berchesi, Felipe Etcheverry, Juan Manuel Cat, Santiago Vilaseca, Agustín Della Corte, Tomás Inciarte, Federico Favaro, Nicolás Freitas, Leandro Leivas, Gastón Mieres, Rodrigo Silva.
Head coach
Esteban Meneses. Highly-regarded in Argentina, Meneses took the Uruguay job after the last World Cup and has built well since, building around pillars of experience and sticking to a largely settled first team. He is realistic about his side’s chances, saying: “the first two games [Fiji and Georgia] are the most important”.
Key Player
Juan Manuel Cat. Comfortable at either 10 or 13, Cat is a fine footballer. Felipe Berchesi is a very able fly-half which means outside centre might be Cat’s home for the tournament, but the 23-year-old is a creator with both hands and feet who will make an attacking impact.
Past Record
Wales 1999 – eliminated in the pool stages (one win)
Australia 2003 – eliminated in the pool stages (one win)
England 2015 – eliminated in the pool stages (no wins)
Prediction
Four losses, at least three of them by a sizeable margin and bottom of Pool Four.
Fixtures
Wednesday 25 September – Fiji vs Uruguay (6.15am), Kamaishi
Sunday 29 September – Georgia vs Uruguay (6.15am), Kumagaya
Saturday 5 October – Australia vs Uruguay (6.15am), Oita
Sunday 13 October – Wales vs Uruguay (9.15am), Kumamoto
Odds
Uruguay to win the World Cup: 5000/1
