Priestland’s chance to silence boo-boys

THERE was a comical moment in Cardiff city centre during the week when the Uruguay team lined up for photographs with exiled Wales star Gavin Henson.

The South American minnows are milking their moment in the sun, with the group of farmers, accountants, bankers and students for once stealing the spotlight from their football contemporaries.

Video of Uruguay’s amateur domestic rugby competition is in short supply and fitness coach Santiago Alfaro — also Diego Forlan’s personal trainer — admits there will be some sore legs in today’s Pool A clash against Wales.

‘Our league is 100 per cent amateur so there will be a huge fitness bridge,’ said Alfaro. ‘The Welsh, English, Australian players have high-intensity games every weekend. We will probably start to tire at the end of the first half and again around 60 minutes.’

There is a danger things could get messy at the Millennium Stadium. At 6ft 9in, Wales lock Luke Charteris is a foot taller than his opposite man, Los Teros captain Santiago Vilaseca. The Uruguayans are the tournament’s only team whose average weight is below 100kg, with Wales having an advantage of almost 2st per player. Bigger challenges wait around the corner for today’s hosts, with Warren Gatland holding back his big guns for Saturday’s Test against England at Twickenham.

The Kiwi claims he has already decided the team he will field there, meaning the likes of No 10 Rhys Priestland stand little chance of forcing their way into the starting XV — irrespective of how many points they rack up this afternoon.

‘It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out what the team will be against England,’ said Priestland (left). ‘This might be the only opportunity some of us get and we all want to make a mark on the World Cup.

‘No matter who you are playing against, you want to put down a marker early doors and show we are fit and ready, and if we are called upon they can trust us.’ Chances to impress have been few and far between for Priestland, who will move to Bath after the World Cup. Today is his first Wales start in 2015, having endured a turbulent four years since the last World Cup, including shameful boos from a minority of Wales supporters during last year’s autumn international defeat by Australia.

‘I have taken a bit of stick but there are worse things I could be doing,’ said Priestland. ‘There was a time when I wasn’t enjoying club rugby. The body didn’t feel great and it was a struggle to turn up to training but I get on so well with everyone at the Scarlets and Wales. You quickly realise how lucky you are to do this job.’