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Uruguay took it to France in Lille on Thursday. The Pool A match of Rugby World Cup 2023 saw Los Teros showing the world just how much progress they have made. This was a homegrown team taking on the host nation of the World Cup; the same country that defeated heavyweights New Zealand on the opening night.
The match was Uruguay’s toughest since the previous Rugby World Cup. The South Americans made sure that the world was watching them. They put in a full 80 minute performance and were, at one stage in the second-half, close to going ahead.
It took little time for the game to see its opening points. Fullback Melvyn Jaminet landed a difficult penalty for Les Bleus. The 3-0 lead did not last long as Uruguay hit-back smartly in Lille. Jaminet failed to grab a cross-kick from Felipe Etcheverry. Vannes winger Nicolás Freitas got it in time to score.
France hit-back with their opening try. From an attacking scrum, fly half Antoine Hastoy ran right and sliced the defense to score. Jaminet converted for a 10-5 lead after 11 minutes. He then landed a penalty five minutes later for France.
The action in the first-half was tense. Uruguay was under pressure at the scrum; Mateo Sanguinetti was penalized twice for collapsing. However, Los Teros also won their share of scrums and competed well around the park.
Uruguay’s courage was rewarded with Etcheverry slicing through for a second try. TMO Ben Whitehouse ruled it a non-try power with Tomás Inciarte deemed to have impeded a tackle.
The third try of the contest came in the second-half. Again the first team to enter the try zone of the half was not the home side. Hot on attack in the French 22, Uruguay used the width well with Baltazar Amaya running around Gabin Villière to score. Etcheverry converted as Uruguay were right back in it.
The smiles quickly went away as a miss-directed clearance from Etcheverry rebounded to favor France. Replacement hooker Peato Mauvaka gladly accepted the gift try. Jamient converted from a favorable angle.
Uruguay continued to fight there way back. They fought for every tackle, every ruck, every scrum and every lineout possession. They were rewarded with good field position and opportunities. France, however, proved strong when in their own 22.
France sealed the win with seven minutes from full-time. Winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey went over in the right corner. It took France’s tally up to 27 points but Les Bleus missed out on a bonus point.
Les Bleus now have a week to regather before facing Namibia. That match will take place in Marseille on Thursday, September 21. Uruguay have one less day. Los Teros play again against Italy on Wednesday, September 20 in Nice. Based on today’s showing, the Azzurri will be concerned about getting it right or risking an upset defeat.
SCORING
FRANCE (27)
Try – A Hastoy (11′); P Mauvaka (55′), L Bielle-Biarrey (73′)
Con – M Jaminet 3/3 (13′, 56′, 74′)
Pen – M Jaminet 2/3 (4′ 16′)
YC – R Taofifenua (27′)
URUGUAY (12)
Try – N Freitas (6′); B Amaya (53′)
Con – F Etcheverry 1/2 (54′)
TEAMS
FRANCE
1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Pierre Bourgarit, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 4 Cameron Woki, 5 Romain Taofifenua, 6 Paul Boudehent, 7 Sekou Macalou, 8 Anthony Jelonch (capt.), 9 Maxime Lucu, 10 Antoine Hastoy, 11 Gabin Villière, 12 Yoram Moefana, 13 Arthur Vincent, 14 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 15 Melvyn Jaminet
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Bastien Chalureau, 20 Thibaud Flament, 21 Francois Cros, 22 Baptiste Couilloud, 23 Thomas Ramos
URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Guillermo Pujadas, 3 Ignacio Péculo, 4 Felipe Aliaga, 5 Manuel Leindekar, 6 Manuel Ardao, 7 Santiago Civetta, 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Santiago Arata, 10 Felipe Etcheverry, 11 Nicolás Freitas, 12 Andrés Vilaseca (capt.), 13 Tomás Inciarte, 14 Bautista Basso, 15 Baltazar Amaya
Replacements: 16 Facundo Gattas, 17 Matías Benítez, 18 Reinaldo Piussi, 19 Ignacio Dotti, 20 Lucas Bianchi, 21 Carlos Deus, 22 Agustín Ormaechea, 23 Felipe Berchesi
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman (New Zealand); Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
