Uruguay roar back to deny Namibia
LYON, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 27: Bautista Basso of Uruguay celebrates scoring the team's fifth try during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Uruguay and Namibia at Parc Olympique on September 27, 2023 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)
By Ben Jaycock, Assistant Editor
Uruguay………………….36
Tries: Amaya 19, 49, Kessler 28, Arata 54, Basso 66
Conversions: Etcheverry 29, 51, 55, Berchesi 67
Penalties: Berchesi 74
Namibia……………………26
Tries: Mouton 1, Greyling 11
Conversions: Swanepoel 3, 12
Penalties: Swanepoel 25, 36, 43, 69
Namibia’s 24-year wait for a Rugby World Cup win continues as Uruguay came back from 14-0 and 23-12 behind to win in Lyon.
The Welwitschias’ 25-match losing run continues despite an encouraging and valiant performance off the back of their 96-0 humbling by hosts France last week.
While, Uruguay followed competitive performances against France and Italy to secure their first win of the tournament with a bonus point victory.
It took just 59 seconds for Namibia to score the opening try as a sloppy pass by Felipe Etcheverry was intercepted by winger Gerswin Mouton, who streaked away to score under the posts that allowed Tiaan Swanepoel an easy conversion.
Uruguay seemed shell shocked by the African side’s try and they went further behind before the 10 minute mark.
JC Greyling became the first Namibian to have scored three World Cup tries as he grounded in the corner after great soft hands by No.8 Richard Hardwick.
Swanepoel secured the seven-pointer with his conversion from a tough angle.
Uruguay roared back with sustained pressure and their scrum dominance resulted in Baltazar Amaya going over.
Felipe Etcheverry’s conversion was charged down and the routine extras were missed.
Uruguay were trying to move the ball from deep but their accuracy was poor and put themselves under pressure.
Swanepoel knocked over a further three points with a penalty but Uruguay produced an imposing driving maul that hooker German Kessler finished.
Etcheverry landed the touchline conversion to reduce the deficit to four points after an enthralling opening 30 minutes.
However, Lions fly-half Swanepoel continued his prolific goal kicking by adding penalties either side of half time.
Uruguay had clear scrum dominance and after Namibia conceded their fifth penalty, Aranos Coetzee was sent to the sin bin.
With Uruguay just five metres out, the South American side spun the ball to the outside and full back Amaya finished in the corner with an acrobatic diving finish.
Etcheverry completed the try from a difficult angle as he regained his shooting boots.
Livewire Uruguay scrum-half Arata stepped Namibian defenders twice to weave his way through the defence and run through untouched.
The sin bin period cost Namibia 14 points and shortly after going back up to 15, captain Tijuee Uanivi was yellow carded for a high tackle.
Namibia’s ill-discipline continued to be their downfall as just seconds later they went down to 13 as Desiderius Sethie made direct contact to the head in a tackle and was shown a red card.
Three games in 18 days was taking its toll for the Africans as they went further behind courtesy of a pinpoint cross field kick by Felipe Berchesi that picked out winger Bautista Basso.
Swanepoel’s fourth penalty momentarily made it a one score game but replacement 10 Berchesi restored Uruguay’s 10-point lead.
The second half card frenzy continued as Uruguay substitute Eric Dos Santos was yellow carded for a high tackle of his own in the latter stages.
Half time: 12-20
Star man: Santiago Arata – Uruguay
Attendance: 49,342
URUGUAY: Amaya, Basso, Perez, Vilaseca (c), Freitas (Alonso 60), Etcheverry (Berchesi 60), Arata (Ormaechea 66); Sanguinetti (Gattas 61-65, 75), Kessler (Pujadas 61), Arbelo (Piussi 61), Aliaga (Rodriguez 69), Leindekar, Ardao, Civetta (Dosantos 61), Deus
NAMIBIA: Loubser, Mouton (van der Berg 72), Izaacs, Burger, Greyling (Benade 64), Swanepoel, Stevens (Theron 74); Benade (Sethie 58), van Jaarsveld (van der Westhuizen 61), Coetzee, Ludick (van Lill 55), de Klerk (Katjijeko 72), Gaoseb (Shifuka 49-58), Uanivi (c), Hardwick (Booysen 60)
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