RWC Match Day Programme New Zealand vs Uruguay

NIt’s a simple equation. A bonus-point win and New Zealand are heading to the quarter-finals, no matter what happens between France and Italy at the same venue on Friday night. Thirteen places and more than 20 points separate the two sides in World Rugby Rankings. The bare statistics suggest a big win for the All Blacks – but mention stats and Uruguay can simply point to the events of three weeks ago, against France, in Lille.

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Fixture: New Zealand vs Uruguay

Venue: OL Stadium, Lyon, France

Kickoff Time: 16:45 (GMT)

Referee: Wayne Barnes  

This will be the first official test match between these two teams after Uruguay played an international against a New Zealand XV in Montevideo in 1976, losing 64-3.

World Cup Results

New Zealand

27-13 (L) ­vs. France

71- 3 (W) vs. Namibia

96-17 (W) vs. Italy

Uruguay

27-12 (L) vs. France

38-17 (L) vs. Italy

­36-26 (W) vs. Namibia

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Debut as Referee: 2006

Tests as Referee: 108

RWC Games as Referee: 23

Team News:

New Zealand: Head coach Ian Foster has made nine changes in his starting XV from their 96-17 victory against Italy, with five in the forward-pack and four in the back-line. Only Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Codie Taylor, Shannon Frizell, Richie Mo’unga, Jordie Barrett and Will Jordan retain their places. 

Uruguay: Head coach Esteban Meneses has made seven changes to his starting XV from their 36-26 victory against Namibia, with three in the forward pack and four in the back-line. Ignacio Dotti replaces Felipe Aliaga in the second-row to earn his first start at RWC 2023 after playing 39 minutes off the bench across two appearances. This will be only the second time this year he has partnered Manuel Leindeker in the second-row.

• A bonus-point win for New Zealand will secure qualification for the quarter-finals as even if France, Italy and New Zealand all finish on 15 points, the All Blacks have the better points difference (+133 to France’s +125 and Italy -14). Italy would then qualify on head-to-head rule over France for second.

• Uruguay must beat New Zealand by 80 points with a try-bonus point, prevent the All Blacks from taking any bonus point, and hope Italy don’t earn a bonus point against France to reach the quarter-finals.

• This will be the first official test match between these two teams after Uruguay played an international against a New Zealand XV in Montevideo in 1976, losing 64-3.

• This will be the 23rd different test opposition the All Blacks have faced in their history, and the first time since RWC 2015 against Georgia that they have played a team for the first time.

• Aside from South American rivals Argentina, this will be only the sixth time Uruguay have played the remaining Rugby Championship teams, with three tests against the Springboks between 1999 and 2005, and two against the Wallabies in 2015 and 2019.