Ardie Savea gets support from All Blacks team-mate Codie Taylor against Italy in their pool match at the Rugby World Cup. Photo: Photosport
The All Blacks are expected to roll over Uruguay with some ease in their final World Cup pool match on Friday but scrum coach Greg Feek said the way Los Teros had challenged France earlier in the tournament had given them some pause for thought.
New Zealand still need a bonus-point win to be certain of a place in the quarter-finals but go into the contest charged with confidence after hammering Italy 96-17 at OL Stadium last week.
France were on a similar high after beating New Zealand in the tournament opener when they faced Uruguay, but struggled to break down the 17-ranked South Americans and ended up with a far from flattering 27-12 win.
"We actually watched that match as a team," Feek told reporters on Thursday.
"Obviously we were really curious to see how they'd go. We saw how many turnovers they got at breakdowns, how physical they were, even some of their backs were electric too.
"It got us excited and probably just made us (think) 'we can't get complacent in this tournament about anyone we play'."
Aaron Smith heads for the try line in the All Blacks' Rugby World cup pool clash with Italy. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Uruguay skipper Andres Vilaseca said on Tuesday that facing New Zealand for the first time was a dream way for Los Teros to end their World Cup and that his team leave everything on the pitch.
"They're a really confident team," said All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor.
"The way their captain speaks, they have a lot of belief, which is awesome to see. I think they've backed themselves and we've prepared accordingly."
With the quarter-final line-up to be finalised in the last round of matches this weekend, Taylor was asked if he had turned his mind to New Zealand's likely opponents in the first knockout round, top-ranked Ireland.
"You have brief moments when you think about a quarter-final and what it might look like," he said.
"But to be honest, if we get the chance to go to a quarter-final I don't care who we play. It's a quarter-final, you've got to front up no matter what."
Uruguay ready
Uruguay captain Andres Vilaseca said facing the All Blacks was the perfect way to round out their tournament and that his team would fight for every minute.
Uruguay not only troubled France in their opening loss, they led Italy 17-7 at halftime before going down 38-17, and tasted victory in a 36-26 win over Namibia in Lyon last week.
Centre Vilaseca said Uruguay had a plan to take the game to New Zealand but the most important element of it was their attitude to the contest.
"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," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"I'll be happy if Uruguay fights everything and comes out empty. That's the goal."
Vilaseca said it was a dream to play New Zealand for the first time in a test and that Los Teros had something special planned for when they faced the haka before the game.
"I love that they put out the best team possible," he added.
"For us, it is a unique opportunity and I am happy for the respect they have shown us."
Coach Esteban Meneses made seven changes to his starting lineup for Thursday's game at OL Stadium, largely reverting to the side that impressed against France and Italy.
Meneses dropped two of his try scorers from the Namibia win. Baltazar Amaya scored two tries but made way for veteran Rodrigo Silva at fullback, while Gaston Mieres returned on the right wing in place of Bautista Basso.
Meneses also restored Tomas Inciarte to the centres alongside Vilaseca and made two changes to his back row, Manuel Diana returning at number eight and Lucas Bianchi making his first start of the tournament at openside flanker.
"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," Meneses said.
"But it is part of the competition that has been generated in this squad, and that is what has made Uruguay competitive in these three World Cup games."
- Reuters