RWC 2015 Qualifiying

[Nielsch]

European qualifying will commence in February 2013 with the start of the European Nations Cup 2013-2014 (First Division). Unlike previous years, the European Nations Cup 2013 is not spread out over the year but will be played during the exact same weekends as the RBS Six Nations in February and March (according to a calendar I found on the website of the Spanish Rugby Federation).

The combined results of the 2013 and 2014 tournament will determine the two immediate qualifiers for England 2015. The third placed team will have a play-off against the best team from the lower European divisions. The winner of this play-off will advance to the intercontinental repechage round.

The teams battling for direct qualification in the ENC First Division are Russia, Georgia, Romania, Spain, Portugal and Belgium.

 

[LittleGuy]

Paraguay have beaten Bermuda 29-14 in the NACRA/CONSUR B play off. Paraguay will advance to play Brazil on October 27th this year. Bermuda have been eliminated from qualifying.

 

[Black_Magic]

A quick update of the global qualifying process after the latest results and before the start of European qualifying:


Africa
Already qualified: South Africa
Qualifier places: 1
Repechage places: 1

Still in hunt: Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Madagascar, Tunisia, Namibia, Senegal, Botswana (8 teams)


Americas
Already qualified: Argentina
Qualifier places: 2
Repechage places: 1

Still in hunt: Canada, USA, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay (6 teams)


No progress in qualifying process elsewhere since my last overview post.

Altogether, currently there are 65 teams fighting for 8 spots in RWC2015.

 

[LittleGuy]

I think the African place is wide open this time around, Namibia have a tough route after being upset this year.

Canada and the U.S.A. one is guarenteed to be America's 1 and the other should be heavy favourites for America's 2, but the repechage spot could be between Chile and Uruguay.

 

[admartian]

Has the asian qualifying finished or has it just gone on hiatus?

Would like to know how the Volcanoes are going (couldn't find much on ESPN scrum).

 

[LittleGuy]

Has the asian qualifying finished or has it just gone on hiatus?

Would like to know how the Volcanoes are going (couldn't find much on ESPN scrum).

Just on hiatus, I believe the Asian one is the last one to finish aside from the Repechage round.

 

[kovana]

A quick update of the global qualifying process after the latest results and before the start of European qualifying:


Africa
Already qualified: South Africa
Qualifier places: 1
Repechage places: 1

Still in hunt: Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Madagascar, Tunisia, Namibia, Senegal, Botswana (8 teams)


Americas
Already qualified: Argentina
Qualifier places: 2
Repechage places: 1

Still in hunt: Canada, USA, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay (6 teams)


No progress in qualifying process elsewhere since my last overview post.

Altogether, currently there are 65 teams fighting for 8 spots in RWC2015.

My picks for the Africas would be

Qualify : NAMIBIA
Repechage place : Kenya

Americas would be..

Qualify : CANADA, USA
Repechage : URUGUAY

Would love for Kenya and Madagascar to be in the RWC... and also Chile for Spain.

 

[profitius]

European qualifying will commence in February 2013 with the start of the European Nations Cup 2013-2014 (First Division). Unlike previous years, the European Nations Cup 2013 is not spread out over the year but will be played during the exact same weekends as the RBS Six Nations in February and March (according to a calendar I found on the website of the Spanish Rugby Federation).

The combined results of the 2013 and 2014 tournament will determine the two immediate qualifiers for England 2015. The third placed team will have a play-off against the best team from the lower European divisions. The winner of this play-off will advance to the intercontinental repechage round.

The teams battling for direct qualification in the ENC First Division are Russia, Georgia, Romania, Spain, Portugal and Belgium.

How are Belgium coming along? I read before that they're putting a lot of work into their underage teams and had some good results.

 

[Nielsch]

How are Belgium coming along? I read before that they're putting a lot of work into their underage teams and had some good results.

I guess we'll have to wait and see and find out in February / March. They earned promotion to the First Division after last season (replacing the relegated Ukraine) and their first Test on the highest ENC level will come this February. I don't see them beating Romania and Georgia but they might have some chances against Spain, Portugal and who knows maybe even Russia.

In 2010 they were defeated 43-12 (at home) by Canada. They might have improved something after that but they've got a long way to go if they want to become a tier 2 nation.

I don't know how they go about their recruiting. Maybe - like Spain - they are trying to attract French players from the French divisions who have Belgian (grand)parents in order to strenghten their ranks.

 

[norcalbuff]

Belgium is probably the worst team in ENC 1A but they're quite a bit better than any of the other teams that have been recently promoted and gone straight back down. I think they're probably the favorite to go back down but it's not a guarantee like it was with Ukraine. I'll bet they at least win a game or two. They basically dominated ENC 1B and they have had very good age grade results. They have improved quite a bit since that Canada game and have some young players placed in professional setups in France (Espoirs of Top 14 clubs, full team Pro D2).

 

[profitius]

Interesting. If Belgium can keep on getting young players playing in France they'll make rapid progress. I'd like to see them succeed because they're located near the big European teams and it would be easier for them to grow.

 

[LittleGuy]

These were the highlights if the Belgium vs. Canada game for a couple of years ago that has been mentioned. Note that Canada did not call in any of it's overseas professionals for the contest.

 

[LittleGuy]

Hungary have beaten Bulgaria 28-23 in the first game of the lengthy European Qualifying campaign.

 

[Nielsch]

Hungary have beaten Bulgaria 28-23 in the first game of the lengthy European Qualifying campaign.

Though it is theoratically possible for a country playing in the lower European divisions to make it to the intercontinental repechage round (no direct qualification possible), it is highly unlikely one will make it. They'll eventually have to beat the number 3 from the highest division (Romania, Russia or perhaps Spain) and that's just never going to happen.

 

[LittleGuy]

Though it is theoratically possible for a country playing in the lower European divisions to make it to the intercontinental repechage round (no direct qualification possible), it is highly unlikely one will make it. They'll eventually have to beat the number 3 from the highest division (Romania, Russia or perhaps Spain) and that's just never going to happen.

It's the exact same system I beleive as last time, these are the real minnows of European rugby, and although unlikely to advance it's nice to take a look at what's going on with some of the lower sides. It was similar when we were discussing the NACRA countries which had virtually no chance of going far.

 

[Black_Magic]

In other two qualifying games of the weekend, Luxembourg beat Finland 16-14 (in the lowest 2D division), and - attention - Poland convincingly beat the Czech Republic in Division 1B, 29-3. I especially like the second result

 

[norcalbuff]

Black Magic,

Can you tell us a little more about the game in Poland? I've read they got 7k to the club final and their results make it seem like they may be the favorite to go up to 1A in 2014.

 

[LittleGuy]

In other two qualifying games of the weekend, Luxembourg beat Finland 16-14 (in the lowest 2D division), and - attention - Poland convincingly beat the Czech Republic in Division 1B, 29-3. I especially like the second result

These are the two lowest ranked teams in the entire IRB, Luxembourg is now developing quite the gap between them and Finland now though. I think Finland have only ever beaten totally unranked sides.

 

[norcalbuff]

Things can change in a hurry at that end of the rankings though with the right effort put in place. Israel, who open their ENC 2B/RWCQ campaign next week, were ranked 94th four years ago and are up to 56th today. Finland has challenges with weather but Sweden has those same challenges and are ranked 38th. And of course Luxembourg has a small population, but Andorra is 62nd with a population less than 1/5th the size of Luxembourg.

Speaking of Israel, it sounds like the NZRU just ran a coaching clinic in Israel and the West Bank: www.allblacks.com/news/20622/Middle-East-rugby-to-get-help-from-NZ

 

[BZHopenside]

Finland has a lot of big hockey guys who could be good ruggers.