Uruguay vs Namibia Predictions: Rugby World Cup Betting Tips, News, Lineup
Uruguay lock horns with Namibia in Pool A at the Rugby World Cup on Wednesday (4.45pm BST).
Both nations are still seeking their first victories of the tournament, from which the Namibians will bow out here, while their opponents still have an outside chance of reaching the knockout stages.
Uruguay vs Namibia Betting Tips
- Nicolas Freitas to score first try @ 15/2 with SpreadEx
- Felipe Etcheverry to score anytime try @ 4/1 with BetMGM
- Uruguay to win by 16-20 points @ 11/2 with QuinnBet
History beckons for Freitas
Despite opening with successive defeats, there have been plenty of positives for Uruguay to take from this World Cup so far.
Los Teros pushed France all the way in their first game, losing 27-12, and they led Italy 17-7 at half-time before eventually going down 38-17.
One of their more consistent performers has been Freitas, who plays his club rugby in France at second-tier Vannes.
The winger has scored a try in both games and could become the first Uruguay player to score three tries at the World Cup.
He will certainly fancy his chances of doing that against a Namibian side that has conceded 219 points in three matches.
Tip: Nicolas Freitas to score first try @ 15/2 with SpreadEx
Etcheverry to continue decent form
Another impressive performer for Uruguay has been Felipe Etcheverry.
While Freitas has scored in both games, both of his tries came via assists from his fly-half.
In fact, Etcheverry has assisted all three of his nation’s tries at this World Cup.
But he will be eager to get in on the act himself and should be confident of profiting from a struggling Namibian defence.
Tip: Felipe Etcheverry to score anytime try @ 4/1 with BetMGM
Namibia’s wait for that elusive win will go on
It is now 25 games without success for Namibia, whose record winless streak at the Rugby World Cup looks like it may extend for a further four years at the very least.
The Welwitschias did beat Uruguay 30-28 in June 2019, but that represents their only victory in five meetings between the sides.
The most recent of them only came last month in Montevideo, where Los Teros won 26-18.
But given the positives they can build on, you would expect Uruguay’s margin of victory to be wider here.
Tip: Uruguay to win by 16-20 points @ 11/2 with QuinnBet
Uruguay vs Namibia team news
Esteban Meneses makes four changes from Uruguay’s defeat by Italy last time out. Diego Arbelo, Carlos Deus, Bautista Basso and Felipe Arcos Perez, who makes his World Cup debut, all come into the starting XV.
Uruguay: Baltazar Amaya, Bautista Basso, Felipe Arcos Perez, Andres Vilaseca (captain), Nicolas Freitas; Felipe Etcheverry, Santiago Arata; Mateo Sanguinetti, German Kessler, Diego Arbelo; Felipe Aliaga, Manuel Leindekar; Manuel Ardao, Santiago Civetta, Carlos Deus.
Replacements: Guillermo Pujadas, Facundo Gattas, Reinaldo Piussi, Juan Manuel Rodríguez, Eric Dosantos, Agustin Ormaechea, Felipe Berchesi, Juan Manuel Alonso.
Meanwhile, Allister Coetzee makes seven changes from Namibia’s rout against France. But two of the players that remain are Johan Coetzee and Gerswin Moutin, who have started all four of the Welwitschias’ matches.
Namibia: Cliven Loubser, Gerswin Mouton, Alcino Izaacs, Danco Burger, JC Greyling; Tiaan Swanepoel, Damian Stevens; Jason Benade, Torsten Van Jaarsveld, Johan Coetzee; Adriaan Ludick, Tiaan De Klerk; Prince Gaoseb, Tjiuee Uanivi (captain), Richard Hardwick.
Replacements: Louis van der Westhuizen, Desiderius Sethie, Haitembu Shifuka, PJ Van Lill, Max Katjijeko, Adriaan Booysen, Jacques Theron, Andre van der Bergh.
