- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
SAINT ETIENNE – The World Cup’s tier 2 nations don’t want fawning praise about their bravery from rugby’s elite. They want tangible help.
The World Cup is into its 10th edition but the tournament’s so-called minnows believe their path to being competitive is being hampered by a lack of opportunity against teams at the top table.
England smashed Chile 71-0 on Sunday, with Henry Arundell scoring a tournament record-equalling five tries, two nights after France pasted Namibia 96-0.
“I’m not really disappointed. That’s reality. That’s what actually happens with rugby at the moment,” said a resigned Chile coach Pablo Lemoine.
“We have never played before at a World Cup. We are coming here and we are part of the show but we can’t play the game.
“We haven’t played that kind of game in the cycle between the World Cups. I hope that changes because it’s not good for the game or the supporters.
“Every game gives us positive things but at the moment we are only thinking about what happened today. The score is completely unfair.
“This is the reality of the tiers in the World Cup when you are playing against one of the top-10 teams. We play them every four years and we are facing tier 1countries at the top of their form and they’re competing against themselves. It’s our reality but it’s a shame.”
Jack Willis of England celebrates scoring his team’s eleventh try with teammate George Ford during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between England and Chile at Stade Pierre Mauroy on September 23, 2023 in Lille, France. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
His captain, Martin Sigren, seemed a little more positive.
“It’s a tough lesson. Four years ago we were getting the same result against Canada and the USA. We were losing games against Brazil. Four years later, look at us, we’re here, so I have to hold on to that,” Sigren said.
“We will keep on working, maybe four years later the results will be different.”
After beating Australia last week, Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui summed it up this way: “We always want more resources but you have to make do with what you have.
“I would take more matches over resources. The more matches we get at this level – I’m talking outside of the World Cup – if Fiji can get these tier-one matches more regularly, you’ve seen what these boys can do when they get competition.”
Fiji have been starved of tier one opposition at test level but have seen the benefits of cohesion formed through the Fijian Drua’s entry into Super Rugby.
Although some of the Samoan team have found a home at Moana Pasifika, they looked short of the same cohesion in losing to Argentina in Saint Etienne.
Samoa’s softly spoken coach Seilala Mapusua reflected on opportunities for his team after their loss to Argentina on Friday night, saying Samoa had played just four games against tier 1 nations in the four years since the previous World Cup.
He said Fiji was an inspiration for what could be achieved.
“The success of a tier two nation like Fiji, there’s a direct correlation between the amount of games, but also the types of games they’re playing,” Mapusua said.
“I look at Fiji and we’re so proud of what they’re doing at the moment. Seeing them lead into a World Cup playing against France and England, and then going straight into Wales and then beating Australia, that’s pretty impressive to be doing that.
“We’re showing that we can be competitive against Argentina, who are playing in the Rugby Championship, and teams like Ireland ranked number one in the world.”
Samoa’s star forward Michael Alaalatoa, brother of injured Wallaby Allan, said his team messed up some big moments against the Pumas.
Asked why, he replied: “I put it down to a lot of things. We don’t get games like this often. We probably get games like this every four years against really top-level tier one opposition. When the games are that tight, we need to nail our stuff.”
I asked him if he would like to see Australia or New Zealand do more to embrace them and give them games.
“For sure, we’d love the opportunity to play against the tier one nations whether Australia or New Zealand, theyre so close to us, or even teams in Europe as well.
“In saying that, we have an awesome opportunity to come up for the next two games and that’s all we’re worried about. If we nail those then teams are going to want to play us.”
Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika – who led Argentina to the win over Samoa – thinks the change to eligibility laws are helping the minnows, and more impact should be seen in future.
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
“I’ve had my stoushes with World Rugby but I’m super pleased that they’ve changed the rules to let the boys play with Samoa and Tonga,” said Cheika.
“I had the rugby league World Cup with Lebanon and I saw how culturally that was such a huge event. It was really one of the best things I’ve ever done. I think for those lads you saw today – not only are they tough competition, like it was a physical encounter, but they’ve got some excellent players playing in the top 14 and playing in Super Rugby and they’ve had a lot of international experience and it makes for a great occasion.”
Asked if more could be done to create opportunities for tier 1 vs tier 2 games, Cheika responded: “I don’t want to get into politics. What I want to say is I don’t believe in tier 1 and tier 2. There shouldn’t be any tiering. Maybe for funding and all that, yeah I get it, but as far as the rankings are concerned and teams playing each other it’s all hands on deck now.”
The World Cup is set to expand from 20 to 24 teams – a decision that will open it up for more minnows but do little to solve the issue of thrashings. So far the Cup has been a bit of a fizzer, due to lopsided scorelines and expect more with more teams.
One idea that’s been flagged is to expand to 32 teams and split it into two competitions of 16 each. Cheika hates the idea of any change.
“The World Cup is perfect. As it is. It’s good as gold,” he said.
Next up for Pablo Lemoine’s Chileans is a South American derby against Argentina. Cheika suggested there was some regional solidarity similar to that that exists between the Pacific Island nations.
“I think definitely. It’s a bit different because the region’s not up in the top tiers of rugby I suppose – they’re running their tournaments, they’re well organised.
“They’re running a good tournament over there in Super Rugby South America where a lot of younger players are coming up and going through.
“A lot of our under-20s played in that tournament. And a lot of guys from Argentina are getting to play with other clubs in Paraguay and Colombia or whatever.
“But there is that pride about the teams together but of course that pride will give way to enemy status next weekend and we’ve got to make sure that we come out there with our best.”
He said next week’s clash was a historic one for the region’s rugby programs.
“It’s the first time two South American teams are playing in the World Cup. And we know that it’s going to be a huge game for both teams because we have a lot of respect for what they’ve achieved.
“There was a game in Mendoza, we were playing against New Zealand, and a lot of the Chile guys were there, like coming to watch a game and I was down in the foyer with them at the hotel.
“I congratulated them on what they’ve done because their rise, to come into the tournament, be qualified for the tournament and the way they’ve played in the first games has been absolutely fantastic.”