Romania boss Howells blasts RWC qualification imbalance
LYNN HOWELLS has called for European qualification for the Rugby World Cup to be run over one year instead of two as he prepares to lead Romania into battle for the final time.
Howells announced earlier this week that he will retire after today’s Rugby Europe Championship title decider against Georgia in Tbilisi with automatic qualification for Japan 2019 now looking unlikely.
“I find it hard to believe we have to go through a two-year qualifying process while the Americans only have to play two games. I can’t see the reasoning behind it,” he said.
The Oaks are three points clear of Spain at the top of the qualification table but their race for the Europe 1 spot in Pool A is run as this weekend’s game does not count towards the process. Meanwhile, Spain are expected to beat Belgium in their final qualifier and overhaul them.
Alternative routes to RWC2019 would still be available to Romania via the play-offs or the repechage, and a bonuspoint win today could even see them retain the Rugby Europe title. However, Howells has decided to carry the can for last month’s shock 22-10 loss to Spain which has left their ever-present Rugby World Cup record in jeopardy.
“Somebody has to take the rap in professional sport, and I’ve decided that, as the head coach, it should be me even though I feel the job is far from finished because of the development work I’ve put in place,” he said.
“We lost in Germany last year which we shouldn’t have done, but then we went and won the European Championship, and everything seemed to be going okay until the defeat to Spain.
“The players knew that if they won that one game they’d be at the World Cup and I think that got to them and they just didn’t turn up on the day. We were down to 14 men after ten minutes and they scored two very simple tries which left us with too much to do.”
Howells, 67, who was appointed head coach in 2012, won 71 per cent of his 54 matches including the memorable 8-7 victory over Georgia 12 months ago that saw them end the Lelos’ firm grip on Rugby Europe Championship trophy.
He also took Romania to the last World Cup in England where they finished above Canada in Pool D.
“We played in front of a record World Cup crowd at Wembley and pulled off the biggest comeback in the tournament’s history after coming from 15-0 down to beat Canada 17-15,” he said.
“Outside of the World Cup I think that the Georgia win is probably the main highlight, as it’s the only time I’ve beaten them, and there’s also the victories against Tonga and Samoa which we’d never done before.”
Meanwhile, Spain are on the verge of qualifying for a World Cup for only the second time in history if they beat Belgium.
Alberto Malo, who captained Los Leones when they competed at RWC 1999, said: “Qualifying for Japan is a huge thing, it would allow Spanish rugby to go up a few steps because I doubt there is anything bigger than being in the world’s elite.
Spain beat Belgium 30-0 in last year’s fixture and have only lost to the Black Devils once in 15 previous encounters. The champagne is on ice as they say.