Juan Manuel Alonso - We'll watch opening game '300 times'

Juan Manuel Alonso, centre

About his experience at the Brive Espoirs in 2021-22:

"The town where I lived vibrated and moved around rugby. The town had 80,000 people and the stadium was always full with fans. And in the Rugby World Cup it is quite similar in all of France.

"In Avignon everyone is very happy that we are here. It's not a big rugby town but they are very hooked on to the Rugby World Cup.

"When we have the time, we go into town. It is very beautiful with a very great story behind it. The city centre is very charismatic."

On facing France and the All Blacks, two of the favourites for Rugby World Cup 2023:

"I never dreamt of playing against France and New Zealand. Uruguay's goal before was to go to the World Cup; now it is about taking a further step.

"Playing against these two teams is a dream, but we are going to go out and try to beat them.

"It is necessary to go into a match with confidence, having studied the opposition, with a very clear strategic plan that everyone understands. We have those foundations to go and win these games."

On where they will watch the match between France and New Zealand:

"We don't have anything set up for the game tomorrow. We are all going to see it, that's for sure, it would be very strange if we didn't.

"Anyway, we are going to see it 300 times over the next week. It is going to be the game that we will see the most times in the build-up to the game on Thursday [against France]."