Tough and decided Uruguay are not any pushovers or strangers to this stage and they are going to be hopeful of including to their trio of World Cup wins this 12 months.
They are behind Argentina because the second-best facet within the Americas, however will certainly be brushed apart with ease by each France and a wounded All Blacks group in Pool A. Both video games will purely be an train in harm limitation from the outset.
Meneses might be pragmatic and know full effectively that the assembly with Namibia in Lyon on September 27 represents by far their finest probability of victory in an in any other case very difficult group, having overwhelmed the Welwitschias 26-18 in a World Cup warm-up conflict in Montevideo solely final month.
Uruguay additionally noticed off an Argentina XV and narrowly edged out World Cup debutants Chile, having been bested by Georgia final autumn. In the summer season, they misplaced twice to Japan and cut up a pair of matches in opposition to Romania, having stubbornly solely misplaced 17-10 to Italy in Parma the earlier 12 months.
This might be an inevitable shellacking to spice up French confidence and perception even additional, however Uruguay gained’t lose coronary heart.
France to win, by no less than 35 factors.
Uruguay have welcomed again scrum-half Santiago Arata, star of their 2019 World Cup victory over Fiji, for the sport.
An skilled squad incorporates 11 survivors within the beginning lineup from that 2019 match and three extra on the bench. Key amongst them is fly-half Felipe Etcheverry, a rugby sevens stalwart able to a clear break when in house as a lot as he controls the sport with kicks out of hand.
Andres Vilaseca of French membership Vannes captains from inside centre in opposition to a France facet who've made sweeping modifications however will nonetheless pose a monumental problem for the South Americans.
Uruguay XV: Amaya; Basso, Inciarte, Vilaseca (c), Freitas; Etcheverry, Arata; Diana, Civetta, Ardao, Leindekar, Aliaga, Peculo, Pujadas, Sanguinetti
Replacements: Gattas, Benitez, Piussi, Dotti, Bianchi, Deus, Ormaechea, Berchesi
France have been already with out beginning fly-half Romain Ntamack, influential lock Paul Willemse and loosehead prop Cyril Baille in opposition to the All Blacks, plus highly effective centre Jonathan Danty, with that casualty record solely rising additional after a massively bodily affair in Paris. Ntamack and Willemse are out for the entire match.
Hooker Julien Marchand suffered a hamstring damage early within the opener, with Peato Mauvaka deputising admirably in his absence. It stays to be seen when he or Baille may return, although each front-row forwards stay with Galthie’s squad as issues stand.
Pierre Bourgarit will get the No2 shirt in opposition to Uruguay as France ring the modifications with 12 in whole, with flanker Anthony Jelonch captaining the facet on his first look since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament within the Six Nations win in opposition to Scotland again in February.
France XV: Jaminet; Bielle-Biarrey, Vincent, Moefana, Villiere; Hastoy, Lucu; Gros, Bourgarit, Aldegheri; Woki, Taofifenua; Boudehent, Macalou, Jelonch (c)
Replacements: Mauvaka, Wardi, Falatea, Chalureau, Flament, Cros, Couilloud, Ramos
TV channel: In the UK, tonight’s sport might be broadcast reside and free to air on ITV4, with protection beginning at 7:15pm.
Live stream: Fans may also catch the motion reside on-line through the ITVX web site and app.
Good night and welcome to the Evening Standard’s LIVE protection of the Rugby World Cup conflict between France and Uruguay.
It’s sport two for the hosts however sport one for his or her opponents, so a little bit of the sudden awaits in Lille.
Kick-off is at 8pm UK time, so persist with us.
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