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The Rugby World Cup pool system has a serious flaw. It is not only problematic but it is also highly controversial and non-sporting. While all teams competing at RWC 2019 will play four pool matches the manner in which they do so is vastly different.
If you have already guessed that the issue at hand is the rest days then well done. Yet I cannot stress enough the severity of a World Cup with unsporting match days. The structure of having four pools of five teams at RWC tournaments has run its course.
On Friday, September 20 Japan played host to Russia in the tournament opener. Four days later Russia played against Samoa in what was the opening fixture for the Pacific Islanders but the second for the Europeans.
RWC 2019 organizers handed Russia a lose-lose match schedule. The Bears had to play against higher ranked opponents with three rest days in between. With those matches over Russia has two more – Ireland, and Scotland.
Hosts Japan know exactly how complex it is to play two matches in five days. In fact it was precisely what the organizers of RWC 2015 handed them. The Asian’s unforgettable win over South Africa in Brighton was the first of two matches in five days. Indeed after three rest days they faced Scotland and were unable to play to the same intensity. That was their only loss in the tournament.
Such demands ought to never be asked of Tier 2 sides. The fact that they continue to be is explanatory that World Rugby feels that there is little option for maneuvering. Such reasons for this are commercially driven so as to have certain teams playing at the prime opportunities.
The RWC pool system of five teams means that there is no way around having a team playing twice on a short turn-around. The only viable way of managing it is to require Ireland not Russia to play to such scheduling. Even then the problem persists but with the strongest pool member not the weakest playing such fixtures.
The demands placed on the players is evidently also selling the tournament short. Teams in such situations often have to make sacrifices to either have their top side for one match or play the best side in both matches knowing the risks of fatigue and potential injury.
Russia’s second match was one day before Uruguay’s first and two days before the first for Canada, and the USA. This is stark evidence of a flawed set-up which should not continue for RWC 2023 unless there is no viable alternative.
The solution is staring everybody right in their faces this week. It was laid-out clear by Los Teros on Wednesday morning (Americas time) in Kamaishi as Uruguay’s upset win over Fiji was from a side who did not qualify for RWCs 2007 or 2011.
World Rugby can kill two birds with one stone by expanding the RWC to 24 teams. With six pools of four teams would play three pool matches with 16 of them advancing to the play-off’s. The Round-of-16 would be introduced and could legitimately function from Thursday through Sunday with two matches per day.
All teams could have the same number of rest days as all teams from the same pool would play on the same dates. Italy would not need to play against Namibia and Canada on a Sunday and Thursday any longer and nor would Fiji face Australia and Uruguay on three rest days.
An expanded RWC as described above would see 52 matches which is an increase by 4. Yet with the restructured match schedule no additional days would be required. This would give World Rugby the means of organizing the event without being detrimental to professional leagues.
Who then would be the four additional teams? Romania and Spain missed out based on breaching player eligibility and are not likely to do so again. Their disqualification saw Russia qualifying as Europe 1. Both Romania and Spain are thereby among probable additional sides. The two others may come from those who faced Canada in repechage – Germany, Hong Kong, and Kenya; while Brazil is one further contender.
The decision is over to World Rugby. Were it up to me then I would sign it into practice making France 2023 a 24-team RWC.
