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Spain’s quest to qualify for a second RWC was greatly boosted today. Los Leones completed a shock 22-10 win over Romania in a RWC qualifier in Madrid.
Having won last weekend away against Russia today’s result gives World Rugby and the RWC a shake-up. The result puts Spain in top spot of the qualifying race to become Europe 1.
Spain is in first place with 21 points ahead of Romania on 20. Russia is in 3rd position on 15 points. The Bears won convincingly yesterday against Belgium who have 2 points. The remaining team, Germany has 8.
Americas Connection
The Americas had involvement in the match. Playing for Spain were Ignacio Contardi Medina and Fernando Martín Lopez Pérez. Both players are from Argentina. The former was a replacement fly half and the latter a replacement prop.
Upcoming European RWC Qualifiers
Europe 1 qualification matches resume on March 03. Belgium are at home to Germany while Romania play host to Russia in Cluj. Spain faces Georgia in a non-qualifying match. With both Romania and Russia also still to face the Lelos in remaining matches their March 03 match will be treated as certain elimination.
Spain’s two remaining RWC 2019 qualifiers in the Rugby Europe Championship are very winnable. Los Leones play at home against Germany on March 11 and then face Belgium in Brussels on March 18.
The successful Europe 1 qualifier from Belgium, Germany, Romania, Russia and Spain will play in Pool A of RWC 2019. This country will have the honor of playing in the tournament opener against hosts Japan. Spain’s qualifying campaign is such that it is highly plausible that Japan vs Spain will indeed open the tournament.
In addition to Europe 1 there are only three other remaining qualifying places at RWC 2019. Spain will be looking to defeat Germany and Belgium with bonus points to guarantee the spot.
Canada May Miss Out
Waiting to see who qualifies as Europe 1 is Canada. The North Americans RWC qualifying losses to Uruguay confirmed them as Americas 3. This sent them into repechage to face three other countries, whom they will do so in a special global repechage tournament in November.
The successful team will qualify for RWC 2019, entering Pool B. That pool contains Italy, New Zealand, South Africa and Africa 1. The Africa 1 spot will be confirmed mid-year.
The Africa runner-up will be Africa 2 and will enter repechage, joining Canada, the Europe / Oceania play-off loser and the winner of the Asia/Oceania play-off.
Spain’s win today over Romania thereby also means a changing of the hierarchy in repechage. Canada now must prepare for the worst – a repechage series against four teams one of which looms as being the loser of Romania vs Samoa.
Canada’s proud record of playing in all RWCs is now indeed under serious threat. The same is true of Romania’s. Both have played in all previous World Cups with Samoa having played in all but for the inaugural tournament in 1987.
The implications as they stand now is that one of Canada, Romania and Samoa will likely fail to qualify for RWC 2019. In other words a mainstay team will miss out.
Still In the Running
Officially there are 16 teams still in the running to qualify for RWC 2019. The complete list is Canada (Americas), Romania, Portugal, Russia, Spain (Europe), Samoa, Tahiti (Oceania), Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea (Asia), Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe (Africa).
