New Zealand v Uruguay LIVE: Rugby World Cup 2023 result and reaction as All Blacks secure quarter-final spot

Having been so clinical against Italy, New Zealand haven’t quite managed to convert their opportunities early here, coughing up possession once more inside Uruguay’s 22 before an inaccurate Damian McKenzie pull-back pass eludes Richie Mo’unga. Uruguay sticking in there and beginning to make themselves a nuisance around the ruck.

Tyrel Lomax’s race is run. Off goes the prop with Fletcher Newell now needed and into the action earlier than anticipated off the bench.

That’s a major injury concern for Ian Foster - Lomax’s development into a top class tighthead has been key to the All Blacks’ development over the last 12 months or so.

But Cam Roigard loses control as he dives for the line! Leicester Fainga’anuk had carried New Zealand down to within sniffing distance and Roigard prepared to add the finishing touches, but a timely hand in the tackle from Mateo Sanguinetti dislodged it from the scrum half’s grasp - no try, and we remain scoreless in Lyon. An excellent last-ditch effort from the loosehead prop.

Uruguay are turned over inside their own half, which spells danger. Out to the left where there are numbers aplenty and empty green pasture ahead of them...

Jordan marauds into the Uruguay 22, cutting this way and that to confuse the retreating Uruguayans. He’s eventually felled 15 metres out but the All Blacks chances of building further are scuppered by a neck roll from Luke Jacobson, spotted by TMO Marius Jonker.

Stable enough from Uruguay and off the blindside Santiago Arata darts, freeing the hands and allowing those outside him to make about ten metres. Andres Vilaseca goes furrowing in close again, the Uruguay captain doing plenty of the tough yards early on, but Luke Jacobson gets over the ball and wins both a penalty advantage and possesion.

Richie Mo’unga chips delighfully into Will Jordan’s hands, and off New Zealand go!

Tyrel Lomax suffered a really quite ghastly gash to his leg at Twickenham in the warm-up defeat to South Africa, but you suspect this is a separate issue, with the big tighthead is in need of more strapping on his right knee as Uruguay prepare to feed the game’s first scrum near halfway. Fletcher Newell stretches himself off in case the replacement tighthead is required, but it appears Lomax will be ok to continue.

Can Los Teros match Lomax and co.’s scrumtime might?

That’s a strong start defensively from Uruguay, though, Leicester Fainga’anuku beating one defender but not a second and Uruguayan hands soon disrupting breakdown ball. Lucas Bianchi wrenches the loose ball away from Cam Roigard and Uruguay exit their own territory.

Tomas Inciarte almost goes striding through a gap but fumbles as an All Black arm gets to him, ending a movement of real promise for the South Americans. New Zealand flip the field and Uruguay are forced to kick out inside their own half.

A fine throw to the tail from German Kessler, and Uruguay’s forwards set to work, punching around the corner and making good initial ground. Centre Andres Vilaseca involves himself and then Santiago Arata spreads it wider, outside backs combining on the left. Into the 22 Uruguay go with Gaston Mieres roaming off his right wing.