Uruguay's 'little birds' in the big flight

By CHRIS RATTUE

After putting on a spurt to finish second in the Americas zone and qualify behind Canada, Uruguay have ended up in the most difficult pool.

It's a tough assignment for a mainly amateur side, but then again, Uruguay rugby is used to uphill tasks.

With just 1000 senior players spread over 12 clubs, and only five of their squad playing professionally overseas, they will have to punch well above their weight.

Led by 40-year-old Diego Ormaechea, Uruguay's most famous player, they beat Spain before suffering surprisingly narrow losses to Scotland and South Africa in the 1999 tournament.

Their qualifying campaign started badly this time, with losses to Chile, Canada and the United States last year.

But Ormaechea, now the national coach, rallied the side as they reversed those results in the second round.

This revival was not without controversy, as Canada complained about a small sandy ground in Montevideo designed to suit Uruguay's limited game.

Then again, who would deny Uruguay any help they can get.

Uruguay staged and won soccer's first World Cup in 1930, and rugby has struggled in soccer's shadow, never flourishing the way it has in neighbouring Argentina.

They have a core of experience for this campaign.

Their leading players include the 129kg Stade Francais prop Pablo Lemoine, who is part of a surviving front row from 1999.

Lemoine was the first Uruguay player to play professionally overseas.

The champion Carrasco Polo club dominates the lineup, their 12 players including captain Diego Aguirre who is likely to play outside his younger brother Sebastian, the first five-eighths.

Dazzling back play is not expected to be their forte, and the Americans accused them of thuggery when the teams met last month.

On a poignant note, Ormaechea's assistant is Marcelo Nicola, whose parents were killed in the 1972 plane crash in the Andes involving members of the Old Christians rugby club.

Twenty nine people died but a further 16 survived a 72-day ordeal, leading to a book and then the Hollywood film Alive.

"Los Teros" - named after a small bird - would like to put their country's rugby on the map for other reasons.

But they were thrashed 57-0 by Argentina last month and with the advances made as rugby embraces the professional game, Uruguay may find this World Cup tournament a tougher place than four years ago.

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