Australia v Uruguay preview: Wallabies to wallop Uruguay

Australia v Uruguay preview: Wallabies to wallop Uruguay

Michael Cheika has decided to shake up his side and rest some big guns for huge clashes to come against England and Wales. Australia failed to earn maximum points against Fiji, but they will not pass up the chance of collecting five here.

The Wallabies earned a hard-fought victory and avoided a potential banana skin against Fiji in their opening match of the competition.

Australia have had great success in the northern hemisphere in previous World Cups, and the two-time Champions are looking to add an unprecedented third crown this time around.


 


The golden boys are set to field the most changed lineup of any team in this World Cup with 14 changes from the side that beat Fiji.

Only Scott Sio survives from that match, to play in what is also the most changed side in Australia’s history in the tournament.

He has made 14 changes to the starting line-up that faced Fiji on Wednesday. Only loose-head prop Scott Sio has earned his second start at RWC 2015.

Lock Dean Mumm captains the side for the first time on the occasion of his 39th cap, becoming the first New Zealand-born player to do so since the game turned professional.



Wales’s victims in round one have made five alterations from the side that lost that match 54-9.

Uruguay are set to field their youngest ever side in a World Cup game, with German Kessler starting after his cameo against Wales made him the youngest ever Tero.

German Kessler replaces Carlos Arboleya as hooker, Leandro Leivas comes in for Santiago Gibernau in the backs, Juan Manuel Gaminara replaces Alejandro Nieto in the back row, with Juan De Freitas and Franco Lamanna coming into the pack.


Players to watch


Joseph Tomane

Whilst Australia relied on powerful forwards to break through the Fijian line, they may well find more joy out wide against Uruguay. Young wing Joseph Tomane has averaged one try every four games for the Wallabies, and he will look to score one on his World Cup debut.


Felipe Berchesi

The Uruguay Number 10 was his side’s only source of points against Wales, and it will be up to him to keep them ticking over on the scoreboard once again. Berchesi kicked three from four penalties and will need to be on top of his game to try and keep the Teros close to the Wallabies.


RUCK prediction
It is a risky ploy to play what is basically a B-Team in any match, regardless of the quality of the opposition. Nevertheless, the Aussies are expected to storm to victory. Four points is the minimum requirement here, and although Michael Cheika insists that bonus points are insignificant, psychologically it ought to give them a boost ahead of the England clash in a week’s time. Uruguay will offer little in the way of a fight, but they would like to become the final nation to score a try at this World Cup.
Australia by 35.


Australia: 15. Kurtley Beale; 14. Joe Tomane, 13. Henry Speight, 12. Matt Toomua, 11. Drew Mitchell, 10. Quade Cooper, 9. Nick Phipps, 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Sean McMahon, 6. Ben McCalman, 5. Will Skelton, 4. Dean Mumm, 3. Toby Smith, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Scott Sio
Replacements: 16. Stephen Moore, 17. Sekope Kepu, 18. Greg Holmes, 19. Kane Douglas
20. Rob Simmons, 21. Will Genia, 22. Bernard Foley, 23. Tevita Kuridrani

Uruguay: 15. Gaston Mieres, 14. Leandro Leivas, 13. Joaquin Prada, 12. Andres Vilaseca, 11. Rodrigo Silva, 10. Felipe Berchesi, 9. Agustin Ormaechea, 8. Juan Manuel Gaminara, 7. Matias Beer, 6. Juan De Freitas, 5. Franco Lamanna, 4. Santiago Vilaseca, 3. Mario Sagario, 2. German Kessler, 1. Mateo Sanguinetti
Replacements: 16. Nicolas Klappenbach, 17. Oscar Duran, 18. Carlos Arboleya, 19. Alejandro Nieto, 20. Diego Magno, 21. Fernando Bascou, 22. Alejo Duran


Date: Sunday, September 27
Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
Kick-off: 12.00
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper, Marius Mitrea
Television match official: Graham Hughes