Colombia played good rugby on Sunday. Los Tucanes were 50-5 winners over Venezuela in a Rugby World Cup 2027 Qualifier in Medellín. The fixture was last of four Rugby World Cup Qualifiers in Colombia. Victory to the home side sees Colombia advancing to face Paraguay in the next round of South American Rugby World Cup Qualifiers for Australia 2027.
SOUTH AMERICAN RWC QUALIFYING PICTURE |
Colombia’s win was the second of two Sunday test matches. Peru defeated Costa Rica 44-0 earlier on in the day at the Estadio Cincuentenario Medellin. Peru’s win gave Los Tumis third place in the tournament.
Costa Rica fell to Colombia on Wednesday and Peru fell to Venezuela. The results meant Colombia and Venezuela were in to the final. It proved to be a lost closer for Los Tucanes than had been the clash against Costa Rica. Nonetheless, the Colombians were still in a clash of their own as they defeated Venezuela by 45 points.
The Rugby World Cup 2027 Qualifying results mean that Costa Rica, Peru and Venezuela have been eliminated. Colombia advances to face Paraguay in what will be an away match. The winner of Paraguay vs Colombia will seal the fourth, and final, place in the Sudamericano 2025. Paraguay will host Colombia in two weeks time at the Estadio Héroes de Curupayty in Asunción.
The Sudamericano 2025 will feature four teams. Either Paraguay or Colombia will join Uruguay, Chile and Brazil in the tournament. Chile and Brazil both qualified by winning their respective Rugby Wold Cup Qualifiers over Paraguay. The results mean Paraguay finished bottom regardless of the result of the upcoming match between Chile and Brazil.
The champion of the Sudamericano 2025 will qualify for Rugby World Cup 2027 as South America 1. That team will join Argentina as the second South American competitor confirmed for Australia 2027.
The runner-up of the Sudamericano 2025 will face the bottom team from the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup in winner goes to the Rugby World Cup. The third placed team from the Sudamericano 2025 will advance to the Final Place Play-Off tournament to determine the 24th competitor at the World Cup.
COLOMBIA IN CONTROL AGAINST VENEZUELA |
Colombia’s 50-5 win over Venezuela was clinical. Right winger Daniel Gómez opened the scoring for Los Tucanes. The quick start also saw fly half Andrés Álvarez and hooker Juan José Alzate scoring to give Colombia a 19-0 lead.
Venezuela hit-back after Colombia were down to 14-men for 10 minutes. Second-rower Danny Giraldo was yellow carded for a high tackle. His opposite, Luis López went over for Venezuela’s only points of the match.
The second half was influenced by rain. Scoring resumed with Gómez claiming his second try. Colombia then rotated by brining on replacements. Hooker Alejandro Llanos scored two tries while Sebastián Benítez also scored.
COLOMBIAN EYES ON PARAGUAY |
Chile were impressive against Paraguay on Saturday. The 64-0 win came with Chile fielding a mixture of regular names as well as rookies. Debutant Nicolás Saab opened the scoring. Ernesto Tchimino all scored on his test debut.
Pablo Lemoine’s team now turn their attention to Brazil. Chile play host to Os Tupis in Santiago on October 06. It is the first meting between the teams since Los Cóndores debuted at the Rugby World Cup. Chile’s debut was applauded by Brazil and the eastern South American country now seek to debut in Australia 2027.
One of Paraguay or Colombia will join both Chile and Brazil, as well as Uruguay, in the final found of South America’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Qualifying. Before then is the all-important Paraguay vs Colombia match in two weeks time.