Uruguay have taken strong measures to ensure they never run out of their treasured national beverage at the Rugby World Cup, bringing 200 kilograms of yerba mate with them to Japan, the team revealed Friday.

Prepared by steeping dried leaves of the yerba mate plant in hot water, mate is an essential part of daily life in Uruguay.

As players preparing for Saturday's Pool D clash with Australia ran light drills at Oita Stadium, other teammates watched from the sidelines while sipping the caffeinated drink from traditional hollow gourds with metal straws.

(Back rower Santiago Civetta (L) drinks mate while sitting with center Juan Manuel Cat during the Uruguay captain's run at Oita Stadium.)

Center Agustin Della Corte said it was vital to make sure the team had enough mate on hand during such a long journey away from home.

"Mate is really very important for us. It is like a social tradition to share a mate," Della Corte said.

"When we are traveling, we have a lot of leisure time, so we like all the time to share a mate. Each one of us brings our thermos and (gourd), but the yerba mate came with the team."

The 22-year-old, who could make his World Cup debut off the bench against Australia, said the team's yerba mate stash totaled a whopping 200 kg, all of which was shipped under an arrangement with tournament partner DHL.

(Winger Leandro Leivas prepares a drink of mate.)

The youthful Uruguayans -- who caused the first big upset of the tournament by beating Fiji 30-27 -- have been enjoying their time in Japan.

Prop Diego Arbelo said the players had been hitting Oita Prefecture's renowned onsen hot springs and taking nature walks to stay relaxed in the lead-up to their match with the heavily favored Australians.

"This location was very helpful to relax, and clean the mind for the next challenge," Arbelo said.

The players also took time to greet and pose for photos with a group of Uruguayan high school students who came to watch the team practice on Friday.

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