While no-one was looking, the RWC 2011 has crept up on us. Only six months since the 2007 Cup was decided, the elimination process for the 2011 final series has started.
During the past week, on Grand Cayman, the capital of the Cayman Islands, eight members of the NAWIRA (North America West Indies Rugby Association) have been playing a knockout series to determine who will go on to the next round.
Even before this, a one off clash was need to see who would fill the eighth spot in the qualifying series. Newcomer Mexico defeated St Vincent 47-7 to claim the positition and so a new nation is added to RWC nations.
Played over three rounds in a knockout series, Trinidad and Tobago looked assured and destined to win when the team showed great style beating hosts, Cayman Islands 39-12. In the same round, Mexico was unlucky to lose 21-20 to Barbados, after missing a penalty shot from dead in front in the last play of the game.
In the second round, played mid-week, Trinidad stamped their authority by thumping Barbados, 56-0, and Mecico won its first World Cup game by beating Cayman Islands, 13-6.
The results on the finals, played last Saturday, speak for themselves:
1/2 Trindad And Tobago 40 beat Guyana 26
3/4 Bermuda 17 beat Barbados 6
5/6 Bahamas 23 beat Mexico 17
7/8 Cayman Islands 11 beat Jamaica 10
Trinidad and Tobago now advance to the next series where the team will be included in the CONSUR B group.
This is really the South America “B” strata and includes nations like Peru, Brazil and Venezuela. From the form shown by Trinidad, the side will more than hold its own and may cause some surprises.
So get ready for the ride. The race to the next RWC is off and running with stronger and stronger teams joining it.
Who knows if any will crash and a smaller country do a “Bradbury” and grab the hearts of Rugby followers.
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