Uruguay reaction (head coach Meneses, captain Vilaseca, Alonso, Mieres)

October 05, 2023
826
Ultimate Rugby

MIXED ZONE

On Uruguay presenting New Zealand's Sam Whitelock with a special Uruguay shirt to commemorate his 150th cap:

"Whitelock came to say some words, we gave him a 150-cap [commemorative Uruguay] shirt. He gave a speech - that was really, really nice. He said he never expected to play one cap and now he's played 150 and he had goosebumps and he was really proud of our World Cup. It's really an honour for us to play someone like that.

"He [Whitelock] had a beer with us and also Damian [McKenzie, New Zealand full-back] had a couple."

On finally playing against the team he has idolised for as long as he can remember:

"It's just a dream. I've been watching the All Blacks all my life, the [Rugby] Championships since I was, I don't know, five years old, watching Richie McCaw and then Ardie Savea, McKenzie, Super Rugby.

"Just watching the haka gave me goosebumps. Also they did the Kapa O Pango, they don't usually do that, they do more the Ka Mate, so that was crazy."

On his friends barely comprehending that he has just played against the All Black stars:

"They just can't believe it. I was taking some pictures with them and sending them to my friends and they were [going] crazy, crazier than me. It hasn't clicked that I have played this game but when I arrive home I am going to watch the game and I am not going to believe it.

"I got pictures with Savea, Damian, Beauden [Barrett], Caleb [Clarke] and Whitelock. Caleb approached me, he wanted a photo, we are both [wearing number] 23 so we changed shirts and then he asked for a photo."

On keeping up with the All Blacks for most of the first half:

"We knew we had to keep the ball, keep attacking close to the ruck. But we are not used to playing against tier-one teams and we got tired and then we had to get used to that rhythm that they put on us, the pressure. They are just the best team in the world when they have the ball, all the options, all the cross kicks, the chip and chase. It's just amazing to watch and also amazing to play.

"Every player in the All Blacks is like the best player in the world for us."

Gaston Mieres, winger

On what it is like to face the All Blacks:

"Tough. Obviously, tough. The intensity that they put on the game and the skills they have, they play a different level and a different pace that we are not very used to. But it was a great game to be part of. We started really well. We played the first 20 minutes with a good intensity and we put them under pressure. Then we couldn't hold the ball and it was really tough. But really happy to face them in a World Cup.

"We could have scored, we were inches out. We did pretty good things and I think we have to be proud of what we have done.

"You cannot stop, you have to keep on playing with intensity and at some point we couldn't hold it. That was the big difference."

On how he rates France and New Zealand, having played both:

"They play a different game, a different style of rugby. I think it is tougher to play the way New Zealand plays, they just use a lot of options and you have to be really, really focused and when you are not 100 per cent focused, you suffer.

"We started really well against France, we prepared that game really well and today, we also prepared well, but we couldn't hold it."

On planning to enjoy tonight now their Rugby World Cup is over:

"We need to have some fun. The World Cup has been awesome, but a lot of pressure for these last few months. It's time to have fun. Tonight we will go out with the boys, go to downtown maybe and have a couple of beers. There's a couple of guys who stay here in Europe, a couple of guys who go back to Uruguay so we don't know if we are going to be all the same group together again. So we have to enjoy tonight."

MEDIA CONFERENCE

Esteban Meneses, head coach

On what he will take away from this match and the Rugby World Cup overall:

"What I will remember is the feeling that Uruguay gave everything. After the first 30 minutes, because of mistakes we made, they managed to score. And in the second half they took advantage of our mistakes.

"The second half was all the more difficult. We started losing the duels and once they found their rhythm it was hard to stop them.

"It is the end of a great World Cup for Uruguay, not just the games but the passion.

"The way in which they [the players] give their lives for the shirt, for the game, for the team is something admirable. That is what I will take away from this World Cup, that Uruguay gave everything."

On why they ran out of energy in the second half:

"All the energy we spent in the first 40 minutes is what led to us paying the bill in the second half. We had no possession, we spent our time defending in the first half and we paid for that in the second half against the New Zealanders' superiority.

"The All Blacks will grind you down, tire you out little by little before beating you. There is no secret to it."

On what Uruguay need to continue to grow as a rugby nation:

"What we need to continue to progress and grow at the national level is to have more competition against tier-one teams, which are the teams that demand the most of us as players or coaches.

"I believe that today Uruguay showed that it is up to playing this kind of game. I believe the future must be better than the build-up to this World Cup. We showed what Uruguay can do and can give but in order to continue to improve we need a higher level of competition."

On whether he will stay on as head coach:

"To be honest with you, I'd made plans until the end of this World Cup. It is the end of a cycle of two World Cups, so I have been doing this for eight years now. After this I will take a week or two off with my family.

"I honestly haven't taken a decision yet but I am aware that this is the end of a cycle. It is a cycle of eight years that I have appreciated enormously.

"As for the future, I will decide later. That is the only answer I can give you."

Andrés Vilaseca, captain and centre

On whether playing the All Blacks was different from playing against France and Italy:

"Yes, I think that's what we saw. We have just played against the best team in the world in our fourth game. Fatigue, physical and mental, played a part. At times we managed to play our game.

"We put some pressure on New Zealand, with all that that involves. As the game went on New Zealand started finding space and it made things much more difficult for us. But this is the best team in the world and that is the difference with the other teams we played against."

On what he takes from this Rugby World Cup, having not achieved the victories the team were hoping for:

"If we think about the concrete goals, we didn't beat Italy, but beyond that I think we had an impressive World Cup. We tried to write a page of history. Our game has progressed. I think we have managed to elevate our level and have been able to show that.

"Against New Zealand, I feel proud. It's the end of a cycle for me. I don't know if this team will qualify for the next World Cup. It gets harder every time. You never want to lose but we can be proud of what we did and the passion that we generated. We have nothing to feel guilty about. We have had a good World Cup."

On what it has meant to be captain of Uruguay:

"This captaincy was three long years - three beautiful years but three very hard years. It was not easy.

"Myself and the coach, we pushed as much as we could. When Esteban Meneses offered me the captaincy my aim was to end it at this World Cup. I didn't know whether I was good enough but I gave everything and the most important thing is the team, not being captain.

"We built the team over several years and we are able to display our maturity to face off against the best teams. I don't know if we [he and the head coach] will continue but we have laid solid foundations so I am leaving this World Cup very happy."

ON-FIELD REACTION

Esteban Meneses, head coach

On his team's performance against New Zealand:

"I am very proud of the players and the staff. We came here to make history. New Zealand are the best team in the world. We played well in the first 20 minutes. They are a very tough team in the contact. I am very proud of Uruguay in the World Cup.

"I love the passion of the players. It's incredible. They play with their heart. They are very good players and very good people. I love them."

Andrés Vilaseca, captain and centre

On competing with the All Blacks for the first 20 minutes before they were over-run:

"Today we were against the best team in the world and sometimes you just have to keep pushing and try your best. We can be very proud of ourselves."

On how to build from this match:

"I think we had an amazing World Cup. Playing France, the host nation, Italy, Namibia - we won - and now New Zealand, playing the best team in the world. It's about learning and trying to give our best and trying to grow the sport in Uruguay. It has been amazing."