Let battle commence for the final place in Japan
THE RWC2019 repechage tournament – the first of its kind – kicks off in Marseilles this afternoon with all four teams involved admitting it’s a massive step into the unknown – although if they think the next 12 days are challenging bear in mind that the winners will be lining up against New Zealand and South Africa among others in Japan. The prize is mighty.
The round robin finale feels like a good idea, a bit of profile and focus on the often bewildering repechage system that formerly culminated in a two legged play-off between the last two teams left standing from the exhaustive qualifying tournament.
All the action will be at the modest but well-appointed Stade Pierre Delort where Jonah Lomu once played a couple of games for Marseilles, the final appearances of his career. It’s a far cry from the mighty citadels that are hosting the big November internationals but the six matches in 12 days will be highly competitive, the weather balmy and the Provencial cuisine superb. There are worst ways to spend your time.
The order of matches has been based on current world rankings so this afternoon Hong Kong, the highest ranked at 21, start against Germany (29) while that is followed by Canada (23) and Kenya (28). Theoretically Hong Kong should meet Germany in a decider a week on Friday but all four teams are close enough to beat each other on any given day.
Hong Kong are the fairytale story – a Union with perhaps 80 qualified players from their small domestic league – but their arrival on the ‘world scene’ is no accident. Well financed, they have run an Elite Rugby Programme for three years now allowing their top players to take sabbaticals from work and effectively train and play as professionals.
“In terms of our preparation, physically, we are in a good place,” says coach Leigh Jones,
below, who was part of Eddie Jones’ coaching team for Japan at RWC2015. “The boys have worked harder than they ever have in their lives for this opportunity. Competition within the squad has helped; guys have really had to put their hands up in training to get noticed.
“From the start of the ERP, the emphasis has been on faster, fitter, lower. That is our modus operandi and if we hit our straps in those three elements, we give ourselves a real chance. We can’t bully people, but we can out-think and out-manoeuvre them.” Hong Kong may be the top ranked side but few would argue that Canada start as marginal tournament favourites. The Canuks are enduring a miserable run at present but they have experience and pedigree. Canada have never failed to qualify for the World Cup and when at full strength – which they are just about this month – they have a small hard core of seasoned and indeed extremely talented professionals such as Evan Olmstead, fresh from a stunning Mitre 10 Cup triumph with Auckland, Tyler Ardron of the Chiefs and try machine DTH Van der Merwe is still one of the best finishers in world rugby.
Coached by Kingsley Jones, the Canadians have also played a lot more Test rugby in recent years, they have the miles on the clock, and you would expect that experience to ultimately pay off... but it could be very close.
Germany are finally at full strength after a year of dispute with their Union and they could be awkward opponents. Although well beaten away to Samoa in their play-off game in the summer they were drawn 28-28 with the Pacific Islanders with ten minutes remaining of their return game before they finally hit the wall.
If they have been able to improve on their fitness and if Mike Ford, appointed coach in the lead-up, can get a good defensive system in place Germany could be dangerous.
Kenya blow very hot and cold and would, you think, lack the consistency to put three big games together in 12 days. It would be a massive surprise if they emerged as victors in Marseilles but no surprise at all if they didn’t claim a famous win and in former Manawatu and Lyon wing Willy Ambaka – a star of Kenya’s sevens team – they possess a potent attacking threat.
One thing can be said with certainty – there will be no controversy over the refereeing appointments although of course decisions will always be scrutinised as is right and proper.
Following the PR disaster of the appointment and performance of Romania’s Vlad Iordachescu at the Belgium v Spain match in March, when Spain were playing for an automatic place in Japan, World Rugby are rolling out the big guns in Marseilles. Pascal Gauzere, Wayne Barnes, Jaco Peyper, Luke Pearce, Angus Gardner and Romain Poite are all taking charge of one game apiece. Slightly over the top you might think but better safe than sorry.