Give us more top level games, plead Uruguay
URUGUAY captain Juan Gaminara has told World Rugby the South Americans must take on the game’s best sides more than once every four years in order to progress.
In Japan Los Teros claimed a famous win over Fiji while they have also gone head-to-head with Georgia and Australia. They finish their Pool D campaign against Wales this morning.
“We don’t think we should have to wait every four years to play Tier 1 teams. We should play them every year,” said Gaminara, the passionate back row forward.
“We have been visualising winning two games at this World Cup because if we do we qualify for France 2023 automatically.
“We are getting better as the tournament goes on. We normally play only three to four times a year. We are getting accustomed now to that many games in a short space of time.
“We have to disrupt Wales’ kicking game. We notice their No.9 usually kicks a lot and so we have to pressure that kick.”
Uruguay hope the formation of a new professional league in South America will help them improve their domestic game and the national side.
The 30-27 victory over Fiji was the biggest result in Uruguayan rugby history and one that shocked the World Cup.
But a success against Wales is unlikely even with Warren Gatland’s side making 13 changes.
“Wales are strong at the basics with their set-piece, lineout, maul, building phase play and kicking,” said Uruguay head coach Esteban Meneses.
Uruguay have introduced a sports psychologist into their camp in a bid to go to the next level and, like the rest of rugby’s Tier 2 sides, have grand designs on building for the future.
Meneses adds: “The team is now like a family. The psychologist is there for every player either face-toface or on the telephone.”