URU team announcement (v NZL): head coach Meneses, captain Vilaseca, Freitas

Comments from Uruguay head coach Esteban Meneses, captain Andrés Vilaseca and winger Nicolás Freitas at a media briefing on Tuesday after announcing their team to face New Zealand in their final Pool A game at OL Stadium on Thursday, 5 October.

Esteban Meneses, head coach

On the changes to his team:

"Except for Eric dos Santos, the rest of the players were available to play. As a staff, we believe that the 23 chosen are the best to face New Zealand in this match. But it was a really hard decision."

On the difficulty of selecting the match-day 23:

"There were no bad performances in these three games, which means that the players who have played more minutes are on equal terms with those who played less.

"Everyone who has played has done so in a great way and it was really difficult to remove them to give other players a chance. But it is part of this competition that has been generated in this squad and it is, I believe today, what made Uruguay competitive in these three World Cup games.

"One of the goals we set for this Rugby World Cup was the depth of this squad; it gives us the possibility to choose between different players. In each position they are all very equal and they are decisions that as a coach you have to make when selecting."

On the Uruguay breakdown being an area of strength:

"The game is going to be decided there. It's going to be a battle. Each defensive ruck for them is a war, two and sometimes more players. We have trained for this; our idea is to play the breakdown quickly, it will happen by being there earlier and get us quality balls to play from.

"As for our defensive ruck, it is the opposite, making the ball slow for them, not letting them play at their intensity, their speed, as it is going to make it difficult."

On facing the All Blacks:

"Today, sitting in this situation of analysing them is a dream. It brings the challenge of maximising Uruguay's strengths as a team and finding a way to neutralise theirs, as they do the simple perfectly.

"We have studied them and will want to have the ability to try to neutralise them in the game for as many minutes as possible.

"It is a professional challenge, a luxury, and I am very grateful to be in this situation. Uruguay has to be aware of its strengths and how to maximize them during the 80 minutes. Our great challenge as coaches is to put them under pressure, acknowledging who we are playing, playing to our terms and not theirs, which is where they are really strong."

Andrés Vilaseca, captain and centre

On the team the All Blacks named:

"The team that the All Blacks named is very strong; any team they were going to name was clearly going to be strong.

"The first feeling I had was that in naming their team they respect us, something they have said after our game we played against France, a team they lost against in the opening game.

"I love that they put out the best team possible. For us, it is a unique opportunity and I am happy for the respect they have shown."

On what goals they have against the All Blacks:

"It is very difficult to set a goal in terms of the result against a great team. Pablo (Bouza) said it the other day: there are 80 one-minute sequences. This team is prepared to fight the All Blacks. When we can, where we can. It is our last bullet, before our World Cup is over.

"I'll be happy if Uruguay fights everything and comes out empty. That's the goal. We obviously have a game plan that we are going to carry out. We have seen opportunities. We know well where and when to attack them, we know their strengths. But it all comes down to fighting everything and leaving everything at the end of our World Cup.

"As a player, for me it is a dream. You grow up watching the All Blacks on TV. Except in a World Cup, I doubt there will be an opportunity like this.

"In my opinion, they have been the best team in the world for a long time. Being in front of the Haka is going to be an experience. As a rugby player, the nicest thing that can happen to us.

"It is the perfect match to close the World Cup and this cycle, the match that everyone wants to play, so we will enjoy it to the fullest, fighting them at everything and making it difficult. We will continue to show how much Uruguay has grown. Facing them speaks of the growth of Uruguayan rugby."

On the meaning of facing the Haka:

"We have planned something to face the Haka, but it will be a surprise.

"The idea is to enjoy it. Hearing the Marseillaise was one of the most beautiful moments of the World Cup, where instead of it overwhelming you, it was a tremendous emotion.

"Seeing the Haka on TV makes your skin crawl, it is a tremendous moment and we are going to be in front of it. Far from shrinking, it will motivate us to face that situation. Then we will play with the same hunger as always."

Nicolás Freitas, winger

On facing Will Jordan:

"He is a player who for a couple of years has been showing that he is one of the best in the world, not just in his position. Obviously, I feel admiration if I may say so. As players we have players we follow, understanding how hard some of the things they do are.

"I always like to measure myself against the best and if I have the possibility of doing so against one of the best in the world, even better. I might feel admiration today, but when the game starts it is put aside and competition mode begins. What could be nicer than competing against one of the best in the world and seeing what happens?"