Uruguay have toughened up - Ormaechea

Diego Ormaechea has warned South Africa to expect an improved Uruguay when the countries meet in their Pool C encounter at Subiaco Oval later today.

The teams clashed during World Cup ’99 – South Africa ran out 39-3 winners - yet coach Ormaechea believes ‘Los Teros’ learnt from that experience.

“We will perform to the very best of our ability,” said the former Uruguayan captain. “The team has improved, I am sure of that, and we hope we can show that on the field.

“My memories of 1999 are very good. It was where I finished my career, and the players all lifted me up on their shoulders. It is a memory that I hold dear to my heart.”

Uruguay will field several survivors from that 1999 Springboks game, including their entire front-row of Rodrigo Sanchez, Diego Lamelas and Pablo Lemoine.

South Africa, meanwhile, are captained by scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen in the absence of injured skipper Corne Krige.

The controversial Krige, who recently described Martin Johnson as world rugby’s dirtiest captain, is suffering from a hamstring problem, yet Springboks coach Rudolf Straeuli insists that he will be fit to face England next Saturday.

Straeuli fields two new caps today – centre Jaque Fourie and flanker Danie Rossouw – while lock Bakkies Botha returns from suspension.