Source: World Rugby

Rugby World Cup Latest – It’s a mad, mad World

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The latest result: Samoa beat Tonga 40-0 to come one step short of the final stages. No wonder there was exultant rejoicing in their changing-room afterwards.

Now a parallel: England to play France for a place in the final stages. Unfortunately there is lockdown in both countries. World Rugby’s answer: there are no restrictions in Iceland; the game to be played there. The one proviso: only English and French citizens permanently resident in Iceland may take part.

Result England 50 France 0 / France 50 England 0 – delete as preferred.

For that is what happened in this Oceania game. It took place in Auckland and was restricted to Samoan and Tongan women resident in New Zealand.

The two team selections were described as ‘eclectic’. Samoa had 14 players making their debut, Tonga 11. Some had been playing in the Farah Palmer Cup, others in New Zealand’s rugby league.

Is this the way to run a World Cup? A man with a different view is Mario Diani.

As qualifier after qualifier is postponed, the timetable for completing the preliminaries becomes ever tighter. Diani proposes a fairer and more sensible approach to the problem.