The final week of the group stages in the 2023 Rugby World Cup will get underway on Thursday evening, with New Zealand taking on Uruguay at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon.
New Zealand were fancied to qualify from Group A along with France, and while that may still end up happening, neither of them can afford to slip up this week, with Italy still in with a chance of snatching a spot for the knockout rounds.
Match preview
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Since losing the opening match of the tournament to Les Bleus, the All Blacks were notably improved over the next two matches and now seem to be hitting their stride at just the right moment.
After overpowering Namibia 71-3 in week two of the competition, New Zealand matched the record for the most points scored in a single match at this year's World Cup, beating Italy 96-17 at this venue last week.
Aaron Smith was the star performer for Ian Foster's side in that lopsided win, scoring a hat-trick just half an hour into the match, which helped take his side above the Azzurri with a substantially better points difference.
While many would likely have envisioned the All Blacks beating Italy in that match, the eventual margin of victory was certainly unexpected and will probably be looked back on as one of the biggest shocks of the tournament when all is done and dusted.
New Zealand can still qualify for the knockout stages even if they lose this match, provided Italy do not earn any points against France, but the All Blacks will not want to leave anything to chance, and after that performance last week, they certainly reminded us why they are three-time champions and cannot be written off just yet.
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While the tier-one nations have dominated Pool A, Uruguay can keep their head held high regardless of the outcome of this match, as they have produced excellent performances in this competition and even looked as though they could pull off a couple of major upsets.
Los Teros pushed France hard in their first match of the competition and kept the score to a very respectable 27-13, while they were the better side in the first half against Italy, but faded away in the second period, and the Azzurri capitalised late on.
Last time out, though, the South Americans may have been a little complacent facing Namibia and had to come from behind to secure a 36-26 win, with Baltazar Amaya, Santiago Arata, and Bautista Basso all getting over the try line in the second half.
However, they are now going to have the somewhat monumental task of trying to overcome an improving All Blacks unit that have scored a whopping 25 tries in their last two matches and are building up momentum as we reach the business end of the competition.
New Zealand Rugby World Cup form:
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New Zealand form (all competitions):
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Uruguay Rugby World Cup form:
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Uruguay form (all competitions):
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Team News
Skipper Sam Cane will return to the All Blacks' pack for this match, having overcome a back injury, while big Sam Whitelock will make his 150th appearance, restored to the starting 15.
Other changes include Tyrel Lomax stepping in for Nepo Laulala at tighthead, Tupou Vaa'i joining the second row, and Luke Jacobson assuming the number eight position at the back of the pack.
Cam Roigard takes the starting scrum-half position, replacing Smith, while Anton Lienert-Brown is chosen as the outside centre ahead of Rieko Ioane.
Esteban Meneses announced his matchday 23, featuring seven alterations to the starting 15 from the previous match against Namibia, and includes the seasoned Rodrigo Silva at full-back.
Lucas Bianchi and Manuel Diana join Manuel Ardao in the back row, while Tomas Inciarte returns to the centre, rekindling his partnership with captain Andres Vilaseca for the third time in the tournament.
Gaston Mieres takes over from Bautista Basso on the right wing, and Silva, making his debut at RWC 2023, replaces Amaya at full-back.
New Zealand starting lineup: 15. Damian McKenzie, 14. Will Jordan, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 12. Jordie Barrett, 11. Leicester Fainga'anuku, 10. Richie Mo'unga, 9. Cam Roigard, 8. Luke Jacobson, 7. Sam Cane (c), 6. Shannon Frizell, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 4. Sam Whitelock, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 2. Codie Taylor, 1. Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Replacements: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Scott Barrett, 20. Ethan Blackadder, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Beauden Barrett, 23. Caleb Clarke
Uruguay starting lineup: 15. Rodrigo Silva, 14. Gaston Mieres, 13. Tomas Inciarte, 12. Andres Vilaseca (c), 11. Nicolas Freitas, 10. Felipe Etcheverry, 9. Santiago Arata, 8. Manuel Diana, 7. Lucas Bianchi, 6. Manuel Ardao, 5. Manuel Leindekar, 4. Ignacio Dotti, 3. Diego Arbelo, 2. German Kessler, 1. Mateo Sanguinetti
Replacements: 16. Guillermo Pujadas, 17. Matias Benitez, 18. Ignacio Peculo, 19. Juan Manuel Rodriguez, 20. Santiago Civetta, 21. Agustin Ormaechea, 22. Felipe Berchesi, 23. Juan Manuel Alonso
Head To Head
This marks the first encounter between the two nations in professional rugby union.
We say: New Zealand 68-10 Uruguay
Uruguay will not want to end the tournament without a fight, but New Zealand look to be returning to their ruthless best and will want another solid performance here ahead of the knockout rounds. We say the All Blacks will win this one by around 60 points.
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Devesh Jaganath
