Townsend’s ‘A’ team aim to avoid a fright of The Condors
SATURDAY’S opponents Chile are just two games away from qualifying for the World Cup for the first time — yet they’re still not deemed good enough to be offered a full Test match by Scotland. There will be no caps handed out by the SRU in Santiago after they made it clear this game is an ‘A’ international only. No good reason has been given other than the fact Gregor Townsend won’t have a full squad available for the fixture. That’s all well and good but it also suggests that Scotland fear the Chileans could be ready to spring a major shock as they build towards a two-legged World Cup qualifier against the USA. Such an outcome would be easier to take for the SRU if it’s against a Scotland ‘A’ team.
More than 20,000 home fans are expected inside the Estadio Santa Laura Universidad SEK for the fixture. On paper, a big Scotland win should be on the cards, but the Chilean side have been in camp for weeks preparing for next month’s crucial games against the Americans in Santiago and Colorado. The winners on aggregate go into Pool D at France 2023 alongside England, Japan, Argentina and Samoa. Nicknamed Los Condores (The Condors), Chile are currently ranked 23rd in the world compared to Scotland at seven. Their head coach is ex-Uruguayan international Pablo Lemoine and their squad includes players born in the USA, Spain and Portugal.
Many of them play for Chilean side Selknam, losing finalists in this year’s Super Liga Americana de Rugby, which comprises teams from Argentina, France, Chile, Paraguay, Colombia and Brazil. Townsend’s men will be warmly welcomed this weekend as it was two Scotsmen who helped establish rugby in Chile. Donald and Ian Campbell were born in Santiago to Scottish parents and went on to represent the South American nation, whose first-ever game was a loss to Argentina in 1936. Both former centres were inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2012 for their efforts. Donald, who was the older of the two, played twice for Chile. He joined the RAF in the Second World War but died after his plane crashed during a raid on an oil plant in the Ruhr area of Germany. Ian, who is now 94, played for 13 years for Chile and is looked on as one of their greatest-ever players. The man who is known as ‘the father of Chilean rugby’ had six children of his own and 15 grandchildren, three of whom played age grade rugby for their country. Chilean rugby has enjoyed few highs in a country where football is king and the game is strictly amateur. They have failed to record a single win over Argentina in 39 attempts but have beaten Uruguay 12 times in 54 matches. They first attempted to qualify for the World Cup in 1995 and failed in seven consecutive tournaments. That could be about to change if they can overcome the USA.