New Zealand v Uruguay LIVE: Rugby World Cup 2023 result and reaction as All Blacks secure quarter-final spot
New Zealand 73-0 Uruguay: The All Blacks are through to a World Cup quarter-final after thrashing Los Teros
New Zealand sealed their place in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a 73-0 bonus-point victory in their final pool game against Uruguay.
A hat-trick from Leicester Fainga’anuku led the way for the All Blacks, who overcame a sticky start to display their attacking firepower again to produce another sizeable scoreline.
Their final place in the pool will depend on France’s final Pool A fixture against Italy in Lyon tomorrow.
The hosts will top the group with a win of any kind, while the Azzurri could also force their way into the last eight with an upset win.
For Uruguay, though, this is the end of the road, though Los Teros again gave a good account of themselves in their first ever meeting with the All Blacks to cap an encouraging tournament in which the South Americans have pushed for more opportunities against the world’s top rugby nations.
Relive the match below, get all the Rugby World Cup odds here and the latest tips and free bets on the World Cup here.
New Zealand 0-0 Uruguay, 11 minutes
Having been so clinical against Italy, New Zealand haven’t quite managed to convert their opportunities early here, coughing up possession once more inside Uruguay’s 22 before an inaccurate Damian McKenzie pull-back pass eludes Richie Mo’unga. Uruguay sticking in there and beginning to make themselves a nuisance around the ruck.
New Zealand 0-0 Uruguay, 10 minutes
Tyrel Lomax’s race is run. Off goes the prop with Fletcher Newell now needed and into the action earlier than anticipated off the bench.
That’s a major injury concern for Ian Foster - Lomax’s development into a top class tighthead has been key to the All Blacks’ development over the last 12 months or so.
New Zealand 0-0 Uruguay, 9 minutes
But Cam Roigard loses control as he dives for the line! Leicester Fainga’anuk had carried New Zealand down to within sniffing distance and Roigard prepared to add the finishing touches, but a timely hand in the tackle from Mateo Sanguinetti dislodged it from the scrum half’s grasp - no try, and we remain scoreless in Lyon. An excellent last-ditch effort from the loosehead prop.
New Zealand 0-0 Uruguay, 8 minutes
Uruguay are turned over inside their own half, which spells danger. Out to the left where there are numbers aplenty and empty green pasture ahead of them...
New Zealand 0-0 Uruguay, 6 minutes
Jordan marauds into the Uruguay 22, cutting this way and that to confuse the retreating Uruguayans. He’s eventually felled 15 metres out but the All Blacks chances of building further are scuppered by a neck roll from Luke Jacobson, spotted by TMO Marius Jonker.
New Zealand 0-0 Uruguay, 5 minutes
Stable enough from Uruguay and off the blindside Santiago Arata darts, freeing the hands and allowing those outside him to make about ten metres. Andres Vilaseca goes furrowing in close again, the Uruguay captain doing plenty of the tough yards early on, but Luke Jacobson gets over the ball and wins both a penalty advantage and possesion.
Richie Mo’unga chips delighfully into Will Jordan’s hands, and off New Zealand go!
New Zealand 0-0 Uruguay, 4 minutes
Tyrel Lomax suffered a really quite ghastly gash to his leg at Twickenham in the warm-up defeat to South Africa, but you suspect this is a separate issue, with the big tighthead is in need of more strapping on his right knee as Uruguay prepare to feed the game’s first scrum near halfway. Fletcher Newell stretches himself off in case the replacement tighthead is required, but it appears Lomax will be ok to continue.
Can Los Teros match Lomax and co.’s scrumtime might?
New Zealand 0-0 Uruguay, 4 minutes
That’s a strong start defensively from Uruguay, though, Leicester Fainga’anuku beating one defender but not a second and Uruguayan hands soon disrupting breakdown ball. Lucas Bianchi wrenches the loose ball away from Cam Roigard and Uruguay exit their own territory.
New Zealand 0-0 Uruguay, 3 minutes
Tomas Inciarte almost goes striding through a gap but fumbles as an All Black arm gets to him, ending a movement of real promise for the South Americans. New Zealand flip the field and Uruguay are forced to kick out inside their own half.
New Zealand 0-0 Uruguay, 2 minutes
A fine throw to the tail from German Kessler, and Uruguay’s forwards set to work, punching around the corner and making good initial ground. Centre Andres Vilaseca involves himself and then Santiago Arata spreads it wider, outside backs combining on the left. Into the 22 Uruguay go with Gaston Mieres roaming off his right wing.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments