World Cup Watch – Uruguay – December 2020

The World Cup Watch series identifies the players most likely to represent their respective countries at the next RWC. The current edition analysis the situation following the completion of international duty in 2020.

Following a successful campaign in RWC 2019, Head Coach Esteban Meneses re-signed as Head Coach. The script for the prior cycle has been retained. Meneses has, nonetheless, already looked to the future. He fielded a hybrid team of RWC 2019 players and new blood against Spain in November.

Meneses’ team also has the advantage of age. N8 Alejandro Nieto is the oldest player from the RWC 2019 roster. He is now aged 32. The players that faced Spain reflect the youth of the team and the lack of transition required from Meneses’ team from one RWC to the next.

Uruguay did not qualify directly for RWC 2019. Los Teros will compete in qualifiers in 2021. Click here for further information.

 

URUGUAY

#

NAME

CLUB

POS

CAPS

PROJECTED FIRST CHOICE

1	Mateo Sanguinetti	Massy (FR)	LH	66
2	Germán Kessler	Charente (FR)	HK	53
3	Diego Arbelo	MVCC / Peñarol	TH	11
4	Ignacio Dotti	NOLA Gold (US)	LK	50
5	Manuel Leindekar	Oyonnax (FR)	LK	18
6	Manuel Ardao	Old Christians / Peñarol	FL	8
7	Santiago Civetta	Old Boys / Peñarol	FL	10
8	Manuel Diana	Toronto Arrows (CA)	N8	27
9	Santiago Arata	Castres (FR)	SH	43
10	Felipe Berchesi	Dax (FR)	FH	36
11	José Iruleguy	Old Boys / Peñarol	WI	1
12	Andrés Vilaseca	Old Boys / Peñarol	CE	61
13	Nicolás Freitas	Carrasco Polo / Peñarol	CE	40
14	Baltazar Amaya	Old Boys / Peñarol	WI	–
15	Felipe Etcheverry	Carrasco Polo / Peñarol	FH / FB	6

Los Teros had two blows in 2020. First, flanker and captain Juan Manuel Gaminara retired with Andrés Vilaseca named as the new captain. Second, starting outside center Juan Manuel Cat stepped away from the high performance program. Both players held down starting positions in RWC 2019.

Cat also happens to be a natural fly half and had been the go-to-player when Felipe Berchesi was unavailable. Cat intends on still playing test rugby, though others will be given preference.

Nicolás Freitas is projected to replace Cat join Vilaseca in the mid-field. This represents a positional move from wing to outside center. The halves are unchanged; ARN projects Santiago Arata and Felipe Berchesi to again be the 9 and 10.

Youth coming through the system is projected to be starting in the back-three ahead of France 2023. Gastón Mieres, Leandro Leivas, and Rodrigo Silva will thereby have competition. Balatzar Amaya and José Iruleguy both demonstrated potential in 2020. Felipe Etcheverry is presently projected to be the starting fullback.

The projected starting forwards all played at RWC 2019. Manuel Ardao takes the spot of Gaminara to join Santiago Civetta and Manuel Diana in the back-row. Ignacio Dotti and Manuel Leindekar are projected to lock the scrum with Mateo Sanguinetti, Germán Kessler, and Diego Arbelo starting up front.

 

PROJECTED REPLACEMENTS

16	Guillermo Pujadas	Champagnat / Peñarol	HK	14
17	Joaquín Jaunsolo	Los Cuervos / Peñarol	LH	2
18	Juan Echeverría	Old Christians	TH	54
19	Franco Lamanna	Mogliano (IT)	LK	46
20	Maxime Sonneveld	Old Boys / Peñarol	FL	–
21	Agustín Ormaechea	Nice (FR)	SH	49
22	Rodrigo Silva	Carrasco Polo	FH / WI	63
23	Gastón Mieres	Toronto Arrows (CA)	FB	72

All but one of the projected replacements went to Japan 2019. Five of them also played at RWC 2015. Guillermo Pujadas is slightly ahead of Facundo Gattas as the replacement hooker. Joaquín Jaunsolo and Joaquín Jaunsolo are positioned as the replacement props.

Franco Lamanna has plenty of test experience at both flanker and lock. It is the latter in which Uruguay will look to him should Uruguay qualify for a third consecutive RWC campaign. Maxime Sonneveld is the remaining replacement forward. He is a bright prospect; a player who could very easily be starting with other Ardao or Civetta.

The three replacement backs offer vast experience; they bring years of professional rugby. This will aid in player management, including during the 2021 RWC Qualifiers.

 

PROJECTED TRAVELING REPLACEMENTS

24	Facundo Gattas	Hindú (AR)	HK	34
25	Ignacio Péculo	Old Christians / Peñarol	LH/TH	–
26	Diego Magno	Houston SaberCats (US)	LK	92
27	Leandro Segredo	Old Christians / Peñarol	FL	11
28	Alejandro Nieto	Champagnat / Peñarol	N8	71
29	Tomás Inciarte	Old Christians / Peñarol	SH / CE	17
30	Alfonso Costa	Carrasco Polo	CE	–
31	Leandro Leivas	Toronto Arrows (CA)	WI	63

There is further experience among the projected traveling replacements. First, Diego Magno has more caps than any other player ever for a country from the Americas. Second, Leandro Leivas and Alejandro Nieto joined Magno in RWC 2015. Third, Facundo Gattas and Tomás Inciarte joined the trio in competing at RWC 2019.

Leandro Segredo was unlucky to miss out on selection for Japan 2019. He is projected to make the roster for France 2023. The two remaining names are currently uncapped. Based on performances at the junior level and in non-capped matches, Ignacio Péculo and Alfonso Costa are players projected to make the roster.

 

PROJECTED NON-TRAVELING REPLACEMENTS

32	Agustín Conserva	Los Cuervos	HK	–
33	Ezequiel Ramos	Trébol	LH	–
34	Nahuel Sánchez	Círculo	TH	–
35	Juan Manuel Rodríguez	Valpolicella (IT)	LO	2
36	Juanjuan Garese	Carrasco Polo / Peñarol	FL	2
37	Eric Dosantos	Lobos	FL	2
38	Ignacio Rodríguez	Old Boys	SH	2
39	Juan Manuel Cat	Old Boys	FH / CE	34
40	Felipe Arcos Pérez	Old Boys	CE	–
41	Agustín Della Corte	Trébol / Peñarol	CE	10
42	Ignacio García	PSG	WI	3
43	Federico Favaro	Old Christians / Peñarol	FB	33

All players in the final category ought to be monitored closely. The case of Juan Manuel Cat is unique. If he is playing rugby full-time he will make the roster, and likely the starting line-up. Other names on the non-traveling replacements have the potential to also feature prominently.

Federico Favaro and Agustín Della Corte both played at RWC 2019. They are more than capable of playing in next year’s RWC qualifiers and being on the roster should Uruguay qualify. Special mention is also of merit for Juan Manuel Rodríguez. His recent move to Italy comes at an opportunistic moment as preparations continue for RWC qualifying in 2021.