Summary
A tough one to assess for Australia. Was it job done, move forward. Or were there still flies in the ointment - suggestions that this is a team still not playing the kind of rugby you need to win championships?
The players and staff will tell you World Cups are marathons not sprints - and with plenty of bodies rested, no major injuries, the win and a bonus point, Michael Cheika will presumably be relieved with the showing.
Twelve penalties, two yellow cards and nine turnovers coughed up. At times the forwards were too slow to the breakdown, the ball retention remained and issue, and long-term problems like what is Australia’s best halves combination look no closer to being solved.
There’s plenty of time for all that to be addressed though, with six days before the next hitout against Georgia, and a fortnight before the knockout stages.
A tenacious effort from Uruguay, but they’ll depart nursing a few disappointments of their own. The late try to Diana a great reward for their industry - another brick in the wall along their pathway to full professionalism.
We’ll lean glass half-full for the Wallabies. Despite another poor start it was an accomplished second half performance and they did what they needed to. If they can get through Georgia unscathed they’ll have plenty of minutes in the tank but still have a few bodies well-rested for when the tournament really heats up.
And here’s our eyes on the job, John Davidson, with the full-time match report.
Looks like he too has lasered in on that TMO/referee discussion around Adam Coleman’s yellow card:
So a look at the standings from Pool D after that result:
My idiot savant’s read is that unless Fiji stun Wales and Australia slip up against Georgia, this should effective seal the Wallabies’ progression to the knockout phase, yes?
Or does head-to-head come into effect, given Australia’s win over Fiji? Who can say - let’s just presume the Wallabies can get it done in six days time against the Kings of the Caucasus.
So - as discussed previously - it’s a huge triple header of rugby from the Japan World Cup. Don’t think it’s time to fix the roof, or trim the hedge, because the action won’t stop at Guardian play-by-play.
Once more into the fray is the redoubtable Barry Glendenning - he’s your eyes on the prize for the must-win clash for Argentina, as they face England:
Tevita Kuridrani is announced as player of the match. Two tries, 120m run, nine defenders beaten. A good day out for the Brumbies backrower capitalising on a rare start.
Impressive metres also from Dempsey (97m) and Ashley-Cooper (65m) - the latter only on for 40 minutes, with six defenders beaten, while it was Coleman and Salakaia-Loto who led the defence with 13 tackles each. Making amends, perhaps - given they were the two players to get 10 minute yellow-card enforced rests for Australia.
Michael Cheika cuts a reasonably pleased figure post-match. He wasn’t happy with the start though: “We’ve started slow again; that’s three times at this World Cup where we’ve started cold. I dunno, maybe I better tweak my pre-match speech, but we have to do better in that regard”.
Otherwise he’s happy once again with the set piece, and congratulates the fringe players who have stepped in and put their hands up for selection.
Uruguay for their part showed valour and endeavour. They thought they had a try in the shadow of half time, which could have made it 19-10 at the break. But surely with two yellow card advantages - both which only yielded tries for Australia - they Uruguayan staff will rue their inability to make that count; play selection, game management, smart tactical rugby.
So, how to appraise that performance from Australia?
A win, no major injuries, a bonus point. A try on debut for Jordan Petaia, and a first try for the veteran James Slipper in his 90-something-th Test. Surely job done?
And yet. Two first half yellow cards after a series of needless head-high tackles. Sloppy ball retention. More missed conversion attempts. If you’re a top five nation watching this, have you seen too many weaknesses in this Wallabies side?
Full-time: Australia 45-10 Uruguay
80 min: So a final lineout feed from Australia. They look to spread wide, Toomua hits the line. They look for Kuridrani wide, but he’s out of real estate. And it’s Pocock who is bundled over at the death, and that’s the game.
Comfortable in the end, and they pick up the bonus point, Australia. Uruguay with a late reward for their endeavour, but they may still feel they could have done a little better here.
Try! Australia 45-10 Uruguay (Diana)
78 min: Yes! There it is. The fans love it, the coach goes up. And what a deserving scorer. It’s Diana, who’s got through an absolute power of work today.
Berchesi with the conversion, and they hit double figures, Uruguay. Well deserved.
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77 min: Tough metres, these. The forwards have seen enough dropped ball in the backs and are doing it themselves. They roll 10 phases, Uruguay. They’re about 2m short now. 1m short.
Finally they swing wide, and Berchesi is so close! Great defence this, from Australia.
We have 18 phases. And is this it?!
75 min: We reset the scrum. They’re so keen, Uruguay - you can almost smell the desperation to get the try they were so cruelly denied just before the break.
It’s a huge scrum push from Australia, but they retain possession, Los Teros. It’s one-out pick and driving, but the Wallabies are expecting it and counter-hitting in numbers.
74 min: Are they over?! Held up is the call. An absolute weight of bodies over the line, but no daylight to get it down.
We come back for a 5m scrum.
72 min: They play quick out of the lineout, and make it almost to the line! Pulled down a metre short. They’re forced backwards, before setting for a pick and drive. Pocock looms ominously - they need to get this right, Uruguay.
Big rhythmic clapping around the stadium - the neutrals want a try as well.
70 min: Penalty against Australia for kicking the ball away from the ruck. A quick tap - you can’t fault the endeavour of the Uruguayans, but the execution just hasn’t been there, unfortunately. They’ve earned another penalty on this occasion though - and they kick to the corner.
Big offensive lineout opportunity. Any hope for a monster maul to crash over?
Try! Australia 45-3 Uruguay (Haylett-Petty)
68 min: A bit of broken play, but Australia capitalise and swing it well to the corner. It’s a double for Haylett-Petty, this will help build his morale. We have a TMO wait, to check for a possible obstruction. Fair play, Raynal, he showed common sense there.
A tricky one for Leali’ifano, and he doesn’t get it. A first miss of the second half.
66 min: Australia set the scrum, and spread wide for another Ashley-Cooper scurry. Toomua kicks crossfield for Salakaia-Loto - but he doesn’t hold the ball.
It’s another shabby lineout feed - maybe time for a spell for Kessler? They do have Jaunsolo still on the bench, Uruguay.
64 min: So, what can Uruguay do now. They need to dig deep - Australia are really playing with the tails up.
Some more subs from both sides, as Rombys goes on a run. Haylett-Petty pinged for not rolling away, and a slight glimmer for Uruguay to go back on the attack.
They haven’t seen much of it in the Australian half. And oh my - not in straight is the call from the attacking lineout. A big error. Costly stuff, Uruguay.
Try! Australia 40-3 Uruguay (Slipper)
61 min: Wallabies scrum, 5m out. They’re just short, but they go wide - and can you believe this!! It’s the big number one - James Slipper. What’s this - Test number 90-something, and it’s his first ever Wallabies try!
Jubilant celebrations from his teammates, they’re buzzing for him. And he leaves the field to a huge ovation.
Leali’ifano knocks another one over. This is better today, but for one that he should have got.
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59 min: Penalty Australia, this time Uruguay with a high tackle on Toomua.
No ill effect, he’s boomed a kick about 45m to roll just inside the corner flag. Lovely from Toomua. He’s really pressing for a start come knockout stages. Maybe his wife Ellyse Perry has been giving him some championship-mentality pep talks.
57 min: An injury concern for Ardao, but he’s back on his feet now.
This is much better stuff from Australia. In fairness, they have been finishing their games better than they’ve started so far at this World Cup - call it superior fitness? Deeper benches? Or just a Cheika rocket at half-time?
56 min: Terrific run from Adam Ashley-Cooper! He makes 20-30m, and does brilliantly to keep the ball in play with a fast counter-attack, but the fullback Silva does well to bundle Beale into touch in the subsequent play.
54 min: So, some real danger minutes for the Uruguayans. Their only ever meeting with Australia finished 65-3. They’ll be keen to show they’ve made big progress since the World Cup four years ago.
Try! Australia 33-3 Uruguay (Genia)
52 min: How’s that for a start! His first touch off the bench, and it’s the replacement scrum-half who crosses. Again it’s Dempsey with the bust - he beats two, three players. Great set up from the big running forward. Lovely stuff.
Leali’ifano about 6-8m in from touch. Again, it’s the curler - and it comes back in between the sticks. Extras added.
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51 min: It’s a big “no thank you” from Kuridrani who fends off a would-be tackler - isn’t he making the most of his start. This is moving nicely - but it’s another knock on! This time Fainga’a, puts it down.
Cheika shuffles his pack - Pocock and Genia come on, White and Hooper make way. A tasty little F-bomb caught by the camera. Let’s just say the moustachio-ed Nic White was “fairly sore” about getting hooked.
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50 min:Australian scrum feed, and they play the short side. They’re about 10m out from the Uruguayan line - ominous stuff, this again from the Wallabies.
48 min: And from the restart it’s another great bust - this time the backrower Dempsey! Did they get a bee in their ear at half-time, the Wallabies? They’ve exploded out of the blocks, this half.
Now, in the spirit of knit-picking: say Dempsey had scored then, and we came back to examine that; was their offside players ahead of the ball carrier? It’s a can of worms, the TMO fine-toothing.
Try! Australia 26-3 Uruguay (Kuridrani)
46 min: Ooh, ahh. A quick lineout, and what a line from the outside centre! His Brumbies’ teammate Leali’ifano finds the perfect pass, and it’s an explosive take and carry. Blistering pace - they’re not catching him!
And Leali’ifano adds the extras, another nice bending effort.
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44 min: Gee, he’s in a mood - it’s Tupou again! Another great carry, but he’s just dropped it cold. A shame, knock on and a Uruguayan scrum 5m out from their own line.
42 min: Precaution is the word from the Wallabies bench - Petaia did have a wee hamstring concern ahead of camp, so just the 40 minutes for his debut then.
We settle for a Uruguayan lineout feed, just inside their 22m, but he can’t make it stick. And it’s Tupou off on a barnstorming run! Great metres by the front rower.
Second half!
But enough about that - let’s return to the action. A few half-time changes for the Australians, I’ll update those as soon as I have confirmation. Ashley-Cooper and Tupou are the new men - and it’s the debutant Petaia and Alaalatoa who make way.
Now - plenty has been said about the refereeing at this tournament, and akin to VAR in the world of football, much of the complaint has come certainly from the “newness” of having the benefit of replays and a TMO.
Take that Uruguayan disallowed try, for example - no Australians complained; I don’t know that the technical error was picked up by anyone - is it too much fine-tooth combing to chalk something like that off?
I imagine nobody wants a game where TMO’s are forensically combing every action during the build up to tries. How many minor infringements occur in rugby that go unpunished, for example. And rightly so, if they don’t have a dramatic effect on the outcome.
Or is technical correctness the ultimate aspiration?
So, your thoughts on that opening stanza?
The scoreboard suggests it was positive for Australia, but some poor ill discipline - two yellow cards and nine penalties conceded - you can’t imagine Michael Cheika would be happy with that.
For Uruguay, some bright moments, but far too many easy turnovers. Yes, there’s been heavy contact, but ball retention has to be paramount. And they needed to do more with two yellow card advantages. Some inexperience perhaps in not managing those ten-minute spells better?
Half-time: Australia 19-3 Uruguay
40 min: Australia look to play past the gong, but it ends up with a ball to ground. And that’s all we see. Forty down, and with that late disallowal, now a mountain to climb for Uruguay.
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Try disallowed! Australia 19-3 Uruguay
Ooph. What absolute pantomine villains these referees are! Manuel Diana who picks up the ball to start the move is adjudged to have been offside to have sparked that whole move - and they’ve scratched the try off!
Party poopers.
Try! Australia 19-8 Uruguay (Inciarte)
39 min: It’s a box kick looking for the winger, but Petaia rises high and claims. There’s no scrum half there to get it though, and it’s an easy pick up and run for Uruguay! The outside centre says, yes please, and he scampers off to the corner.
37 min: A few more scrum re-sets. Again, this only runs down the minutes in which Uruguay have to play against 14.
It’s another turnover, and now the South Americans have a chance to run, ball-in-hand, just before the break. What can they muster.
35 min: Another loose pass in the Uruguayan backline move - they haven’t quite managed to have their passes stick today. Los Teros claim an obstruction as Slipper knocks over a player on a kick and chase, but the referee’s having none of it. The prop’s entitled to hold his ground, I guess.
33 min: Australia now getting some momentum together as Beale again hits a great hole, off a fine line. Is it the Indigenous jersey that’s giving him an extra lift? He’s definitely looking in fine fettle today. He finds Petaia, and then picks up the return ball.
But it’s a poor lineout - the jumper misses it entirely, and they give up the attacking opportunity.
Try! Australia 19-3 Uruguay (Kuridrani)
30 min: Australia fail to find touch from a penalty kick to the sideline, and Uruguay have the chance, ball in hand. But they’ve coughed it up, so it’s the Wallabies on the offensive.
It was Hooper with the steal, it may have been forward the pass of, I’d like to see that again. But they spin it out the back, Beale with hard, straight running, he offloads to Petaia, and the youngster finds his centre backing up inside. Try time.
And it’s a miss from Leali’ifano. Very gettable, that.
27 min: It’s a penalty against Australia, Beale catching his opponent marginally high, and Uruguay kick to the line. Gee, they’ve given up some penalties so far. Is this ill discipline? Laziness? You don’t imagine Michael Cheika will be enjoying this.
Uruguay look for a chip and chase, but White cleans up in the air.
And now we’ve a second yellow card! It’s Salakaia-Loto who gets a ten-minute spell on the sideline. Four high tackles - and fair play the French referee: Coleman’s might have been marginal, but no mistaking a hit direct to the head from the Wallabies backrower.
26 min: Coleman returns - so Australia finish the yellow card period with a net +7 points differential. Call that experience perhaps - Uruguay really needed to make that count.
They’re back in the Australian half though, and it’s Freitas again with a dangerous run. Hasn’t he looked lively, early on.
Try! Australia 14-3 Uruguay (Petaia)
24 min: Finally a touch for Petaia, as Australia hit wide! He carries well and takes the contact of two or three bodies, good post-contact metres from the teenager. Australia look to flick right - and who’s on the end of it! It’s a popped pass from the fullback Beale midfield, and the left winger has come hunting - and scores his first ever Wallabies try!
No mistake from in front from Leali’ifano with the conversion. Extras added.
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22 min: But it’s a great second shove from the Uruguayan pack and they turn it over! They play back and clear their lines - a nice thumping kick back to halfway. Danger averted.
20 min: Australia almost lose it from the seven-man scrum, before White pounces on a loose ball.
Australia very lucky to get another scrum feed here - what was the infringement? Hooper was isolated and it appeared Uruguay were standing over it fairly.
19 min: We reset the scrum - again, valuable minutes being lost for Uruguay’s one-man advantage.
We’re nearly a quarter of the match gone, and I don’t think the youngster debutant Petaia has even had a touch! Get it wide, lads.
18 min: A decent bust from White off the lineout win, before Kuridrani gets some metres. Hooper gets the hand-off and charges for the line - has he grounded it! We go upstairs to double check.
No clear view - we come back for a 5m scrum feed.
16 min: Beale with a chip and chase, but it just evades the fullback for the regather.
Uruguay with the box kick, Haylett-Petty gathers well, and it’s a penalty to Australia. Again, they take their time before kicking to touch.
15 min: So, Australia are down to 14 for ten minutes. What can Uruguay make from the advantage? We set for an Australia scrum feed - expected the Wallabies to “manage the clock” wisely while they’re down a body.
13 min: We stop for another TMO. Adam Coleman is given a yellow card! An interesting discussion - the TMO explicitly said on three occasions “first contact with the shoulder” but referee Raynal has told the Wallabies second rower he has to go for contact on the neck.
A tough one? Or a good reminder of the rules?
Penalty! Australia 7-3 Uruguay
First points, Uruguay! They will be happy with that - but perhaps also disappointed they could get the try? Still, a bright start.
11 min: A flying Nicolas Freitas hits the line at pace, and he bundles down just a metre short of the line! Hooper grabs him, but it’s a touch high. There’s a lost ball shortly after, so Los Teros settle for a penalty advantage and point to the sticks.
9 min: Infringements from Australia, and Uruguay now set for a 5m lineout. Pockets of support around the arena get very excited - could this be a first try against Australia?
We set for a scrum, 5m out. Uruguay with the feed. Great opportunity this.
7 min: Ball dropped! Coleman with a spill from the kickoff, Uruguay with ball in hand 30m out from Australia’s line.
What can they come up with?
Try! Australia 7-0 Uruguay (Haylett-Petty)
5 min: Absolutely huge tackle from Manuel Diana! There was a loose ball Australia were just metres from the line and Tevita Kuridrani was stopped in full flight. But they recycle and swing wide, and the South Americans are caught with bodies short out wide. Haylett-Petty into the corner for the first points.
And a curling effort from Leali’ifano that comes back nicely and inside the posts, two points added.
3 min: Costly error here though from Uruguay, with a knock on from the lineout. We settle for our first scrum, Australia’s feed around 35m out.
And they earn a penalty at the scrum. Toomua punts for the line and they set up for the offensive lineout.
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2 min: An early driving maul for Australia before Nic White gets his troops moving. But it’s Manuel Ardao who earns the first penalty of the day as he gets the breakdown turnover with Coleman isolated.
Kickoff!
1 min: And it’s the boot of Christian Leali’ifano that gets us underway! Uruguay take well and clear into touch around the halfway line.
Perfect conditions in Oita, let’s hope the handling matches.
And now it’s anthems - and just quietly - what an absolute banger that is from Uruguay. If you thought Brazil had a lively number do yourself a favour and get on this. And now the by comparisons mundane Australian ditty. Huge participation from the crowd, there could be a few Wallabies fans in the house tonight.
So, our players are ready to head out onto the pristine Oita pitch. Australia, as mentioned, emphasising the green in the green & gold, with this stunning Indigenous-patterned jersey, and the Uruguayans springing for a slightly more subdued white jersey. Imagine the laundry bill post-game.
Our referee today is Mathieu Raynal. Hurrah. At least it’s not Romain Poite I guess.
And a reminder that we’ve a huge triple header of rugby in store today.
After Australia v Uruguay you can hop into your outrigger and sail across the Rio de La Plata to Buenos Aires, where the festivities will no doubt be building long into the South American evening: Argentina v England. Do you reckon there’s any history between these two nations? How up for this will Mario Ledesma’s men be - they’ve said pre-game it’s their “World Cup final”, have Argentina.
Then, for dessert - Japan v Samoa. The host nation will be looking to win four consecutive World Cup games for the first time ever, and build on their remarkable run after their stunning upset of Ireland.
But, without further ado - here’s the teamlists:
As mentioned, Jordan Petaia is the new name on the wing, while Leali’ifano and Toomua have a chance to solidify their halves partnership. No O’Connor so Samu Kerevi is drafted back onto the bench, while it’s a new-look front row.
Australia: (15-1)
15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt To’omua, 11 Jordan Petaia, 10 Christian Leali’ifano, 9 Nicholas White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper.
Bench: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Sekope Kepu, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Rory Arnold, 20 David Pocock, 21 Will Genia, 22 Samu Kerevi, 23 Adam Ashley-Cooper.
For Uruguay - there’s youth in plenty, with 12 players listed under 25. Great strategy, for mine - you can’t fear what you don’t know. The folly/bravery of youth and all that - like a young Michael Owen striding up for penalty number one at the 1998 World Cup. Why not.
Uruguay: (15-1)
15 Rodrigo Silva, 14 Federico Favaro, 13 Tomas Inciarte, 12 Andres Vilaseca (c), 11 Nicolas Freitas, 10 Felipe Berchesi, 9 Agustin Ormaechea, 8 Manuel Diana, 7 Juan Diego Ormaechea, 6 Manuel Ardao, 5 Manuel Leindekar, 4 Franco Lamanna, 3 Diego Arbelo, 2 German Kessler, 1 Juan Echeverria.
Bench: 6 Guillermo Pujadas, 17 Joaquin Jaunsolo, 18 Juan Pedro Rombys, 19 Ignacio Dotti, 20 Juan Manuel Gaminara, 21 Santiago Arata, 22 Felipe Etcheverry, 23 Agustin Della Corte.
All the talk from out of Australia is about the exciting youngster, Jordan Petaia, who’s set to become the youngest ever Wallaby to appear at a World Cup - breaking Joe Roff’s record, as he lines up at wing, aged just 19 years old.
There’s something else making its debut in this match that’s pretty exciting, just quietly. Check out this little number:
The @wallabies will wear their indigenous jerseys for the first time at Rugby World Cup today when they face @RugbyUruguay 👌#RWC2019 #AUSvURU pic.twitter.com/nHJDMJ8hsM
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 5, 2019
A small development from inside the Australian camp that may make the Uruguayan cause marginally easier - news that James O’Connor has been scratched out of the clash, due to injury:
So. David vs Goliath. How do Uruguay plot another World Cup miracle? For a side that qualified via playoff games v Chile, Peru and Brazil, facing one of just four nations that have won the whole tournament must be something else completely.
“Playing Australia is motivation enough - we don’t get to play tier one nations except for at the World Cup. Execute our game plan, play with tempo and rhythm. We need to think about us, and our play, not them.”
That’s the word from the Uruguayan camp pre-game. They won’t have the skill level of Australia - many of these players are of course amateurs; but you’ll be sure they’ll have hearts beating out of their chests. Just cast your mind back to the celebrations post-game after that historic win over Fiji.
Hi all! A good morning/evening/post-prandial recline to you, in what ever circumstances this blog currently finds you around the world.
It’s just past 2.30pm in Sydney and 1.30am in Uruguay so I’m hoping there’s some brave Los Teros fans channelling the Charruas fighting spirit and staying up all doors for this one. Are you having a massive party, draped with sky blue and white streamers, with miscellaneous party meats on the BBQ? Let us know!
Email or tweet me to join the discussion today - I want to hear your predictions, insights, premonitions.
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Preamble
Australia v Uruguay. One of the iconic battles. If we’re talking football c. 2005 that is.
When it comes to the Gilbert, though, these two sides boast just one meeting - and as per now, this came during the pool stage of the 2015 World Cup. That one finished 65-3. This one may not finish much closer.
Being complacent about Uruguay at rugby in 2019 comes with a giant sized asterisk though. Just ask John McKee and the staff of Fiji, whose tournament hopes now lie in tatters, after the “Grab-and-Smashi of Kaimashi”, where the unfancied Los Teros emerged 30-27 victors.
In theory, lighting doesn’t strike twice, and you could argue that Australia have too much talent across the park for Uruguay to even come close. But after one of the all-time Rugby World Cup upsets, don’t be surprised if there’s a bit more to Los Teros than people have given them credit.
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