Italy head coach Kieran Crowley believes Uruguay “pose a massive threat” forward of their assembly at Stade de Nice.
The groups meet in Pool A on Wednesday and Gli Azzurri will likely be trying to construct on their dominant opening-game victory in opposition to Namibia, which they received 52-8.
However, Crowley is aware of simply what challenges their South American opponents can pose after they gave France a troublesome take a look at on Thursday, with the hosts ultimately rising victorious.
“Uruguay pose a massive threat. I was in Canada 15 years ago and they were just starting to get their systems right,” Crowley stated.
“They have got a centralised programme in Montevideo. Most of their team plays for a club in the Central American championship. Then you add in the players who play in France and you’ve got a pretty formidable team.
“They’ve got 19 players who have been to one or two World Cups. We are expecting that physical battle. You saw in the France game that their breakdown work was outstanding.”
Italy have made 4 modifications for the sport, with Niccolo Cannone, Alessandro Garbisi and Lorenzo Pani all coming into the beginning XV together with Saracens’ Marco Riccioni, who begins within the entrance row. Star participant Ange Capuozzo has been moved from the wing to full-back.
Uruguay head coach Esteban Meneses has additionally made two modifications to his workforce following the France defeat, with hooker German Kessler and winger Gaston Mieres beginning.