Rugby World Cup 2015: Uruguay coach relishes 'group of hope'

The Uruguay team that played a friendly against Japan in August - and lost 40-0

Uruguay coach Pablo Lemoine says his team are "really lucky" to be playing in the toughest pool in the World Cup.

The South Americans play Wales in Cardiff on Sunday, before facing Fiji, Australia and hosts England in Pool A.

Former Stade Francais prop Lemoine said he is looking forward to guiding his team in the so-called group of death.

"We are playing three of the top five in the world and for that reason for us it is not the group of death, it is the group of hope," he said.

"We have a unique chance to play against those three teams and we are ready to enjoy that.

"That is not bad luck for us, we are really lucky."

Uruguay arrived in Wales on Sunday and had a training session in driving rain at Newport High School before meeting the media.

Only five of their 31-man squad play outside Uruguay - four in the French second division and one in Argentina.

Los Teros have not played in the finals since 2003 - a tournament that saw them lose 111-13 to eventual winners England.

Having qualified via a two-leg play-off against Russia, they find themselves paired with the teams ranked second, fourth and fifth in the world.

"Every group at the Rugby World Cup would be difficult for us," added Lemoine, whose team are 19th in World Rugby's rankings.

"To play against England, Australia and Wales in one month - it will probably never happen again for us."