Spain begin their reboot after World Cup debacle RUGBY MATTERS
TO slightly misquote Gladys Knight and her beloved Pips, “it should have been us”. Spain could be excused for looking enviously around them this autumn as Russia start preparing for RWC2019 and Germany get ready after somehow ending up in the repechage in Marseilles after the worst season in their history.
The debacle of Spain’s appallingly refereed World Cup decider against Belgium still leaves a bad taste while the realisation that they themselves also contributed to their downfall by getting their paperwork wrong and fielding two ineligible players gnaws away.
Both players involved had Spanish grandparents and were paying for the privilege of playing for Spain, unlike the mercenaries and chancers who tout for custom around the Home Unions and France.
Only this week we learned that Montpellier’s South African man mountain Paul Wilemse and Fijian speedster Aliverti Raka – extremely well paid during their three-year residency period – are poised for a call-up by France as soon as their French passports drop through the letter box.
Spain’s captain Jamie Nava could be bitter and twisted but remains fairly philosophical and optimistic. Tests next month against Namibia and Samoa – both going to Japan – offer a chance to get back on the horse and reconnect with the Spanish rugby public who are expected to attend in large numbers.
“It’s a big November for us and probably the start of my last season as well so I am very motivated,” says Nava. “I am fighting for fitness to make the two Tests as I broke my arm in a club match a few weeks ago. It’s 50-50 but I am very keen to play.
“We have to start the rebuilding and be positive. Now we will have five years not three to get ready for France 2023 which is a tournament we must qualify for.
“We are over the anger, all that is left is the confusion at how we are treated differently to the bigger nations. Everybody can see the unfairness but those in charge do nothing.
“The thing people must remember is that Spanish rugby will not be starting from zero next month. Good things were happening long before ‘the scandal’ and will continue to happen. It was great to see our men’s and women’s Sevens team flying the flag proudly this summer, now it is the turn of Los Leones.
“It will be challenging. We have lost the players who were suspended for the incidents at the end of the Belgium match – and the two players who were ruled as ineligible – and although the group is still firm and strong there are some players who cannot be available this Autumn.
“What the authorities forget or choose not to mention because it doesn’t fit the narrative is that our French-based players all give up time and money to play for Spain, they make themselves unpopular with their clubs and risk their contracts to play for Los Leones. It is them making a sacrifice for rugby, to play for Spain the nation of their parents and grandparents. That is what they and we were punished for earlier this year.
“So some of our French-based players will be stepping back for a while and that gives us a chance to test some of our younger players, many of who are based in Spain.
“Also since the World Cup disappointment we have still been contacted by other Spanish qualified players in France and elsewhere and at some stage we will be looking to get them involved. As soon as RWC2019 is over and the qualification process for 2023 is confirmed this might happen – and of course we must check the paperwork very carefully.”
Nava, an urbane and level headed man, wasn’t over impressed when I mentioned that World Rugby have organised for four or five of the world’s best referees, including Wayne Barnes and Romaine Poite, to officiate at the four team World Cup repechage tournament next month. A nice gesture but it rather smacks of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted and showboating.
“The best referees are always in demand but when we played Belgium a guaranteed place in the World Cup finals was at stake. We should have been afforded the courtesy of a top neutral referee and officials, especially after we raised the subject long before. It seems they they are compensating for that now in Marseilles.”
Indeed and perhaps World Rugby’s belated actions do offer j confirmation that Spain’s initial grievance over events in Brussel was entirely vindicated. It’s not much to be getting on with though, a win over Namibia or Samoa is what Spain really need to reboot and go again.