The clash at Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon saw Pool A's minnows both aiming to take something away from the tournament with Namibia already eliminated and Uruguay as good as out.

Namibia had already suffered three chastening defeats after being thrashed 96-0 by France, 71-3 by New Zealand and 52-8 by Italy.

But they started strongly against a Uruguay side who earned many plaudits by running the French close in a 27-12 defeat.

The African side have never won a World Cup match in 26 attempts but Gerswin Mouton pounced on a loose ball to give them their first try inside the first minute of the match.

JC Greyling also crossed with both tries converted by Tiaan Swanepoel for a 14-0 lead.

Baltazar Amaya responded with a try for Uruguay but Felipe Etcheverry missed the conversion, with Swanepoel then kicking a penalty to extend Namibia's lead to 17-5.

German Kessler's try, converted by Etcheverry, cut the gap for Uruguay, before another Swanepoel penalty made it 20-12 to Namibia at half time.

Swanepoel added another penalty to start the second half but Amaya's second try while Johan Coetzee was sinbinned for a yellow card turned the tide.

Santiago Arata crossed for another Uruguay try shortly afterwards with both converted by Etcheverry to put the South Americans ahead for the first time at 26-23.

Their run of 14 points was all scored with Coetzee off the field.

Namibia then lost two more players to the sin bin in quick succession as skipper Tjiuee Uanivi and Desiderius Sethie were shown yellow cards for high tackles, with Sethie's upgraded to red by the bunker system.

Bautista Basso scored another Uruguay try which Felipe Berchesi converted before another Swanepoel penalty.

Berchesi kicked a Uruguayan penalty to end the scoring as Uruguay's forward power and Namibia's poor discipline settled the contest.

Namibia, who had to cope with the absence of Johan Retief after he was bitten by a spider at the team hotel, causing an infection, have now played all their pool games with four defeats.

Uruguay are almost certain to exit the tournament as well as they need to defeat giants New Zealand with a four-try bonus point to stand any chance of progressing, and even then could still only get through to the quarter-finals on points difference.

"The players are incredible, I am very proud for them," said Uruguay head coach Esteban Meneses.

Namibia head coach Allister Coetzee added: "Uruguay took control of the game but that is test-match rugby when you concede 12 penalties and three cards, it is very difficult."

Japan play Samoa in Pool D tomorrow.