Three squads, Colombia, Kazakhstan and Scotland, have assembled in Dubai for the final, final qualifiers that looked as though they would never see the light of day.
This stage of qualifying has sadly been greatly diminished by the pandemic. Neither Hong Kong nor Samoa were able to make the trip – HK is suffering very badly from Covid-19 at the time of writing – so we are left with two matches spread across a week:
19 February: Colombia v Kazakhstan
25 February: Scotland v the winners of the previous match
All the same. the tension will be high, and the novelty value of the contests will add enormously to the occasions. Scotland start as firm favourites. They hold all the aces: (relatively) regular test matches, recent experience of surviving a heart-stopping result (Ireland 18 Scotland 20 in Padua) and a highest ever world ranking of 9th. The squad flew out to the UAE as early as 13 February, twelve days before their big day. Bryan Easson assembled a strong squad, weakened only by the enforced absence of Hannah Smith, owing to suspension. It would be their first appearance at an RWC since 2010, so not a single member of the squad can claim prior experience.
Colombia v Kazakhstan
Las Tucanes (the ‘Toucans’, ranked 26th) have a few advantages: they come largely from the Antioquia club that dates right back to 1996, so will know each other’s game. And they have experienced travelling a vast distance to play a single game and win it. They have won all their test matches, but they amount to three.
The odds are still just on the Kazakhs (ranked 15th), even though they have suffered a complete blank in international experience for three years. Asia has been the region hardest hit by the pandemic; tournament after tournament has bitten the dust. But in an earlier life the Kazakhs were regular visitors to the World Cup, indeed they have played Scotland once before, losing 32-17 to them in Edmonton in 2006. Rather like the Black Ferns on their recent tour the squad will contain a large number of talented but inexperienced youngsters.
Background
It was a triumph for World Rugby to bring Colombia to Nairobi for the previous round against Kenya, It’s an even bigger one to see these three nations link up in the Middle East. The matches have an exotic feel about them that could make yet another England-France contest on 15 October look everyday – well. almost.
For here we have three different continents represented – Kazakhstan now returned logically from Europe to Asia – who could hardly have imagined taking part in so unusual a pair of matches.
If Colombia do fail in their quest, it won’t be the end of the road. They still have the World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town in September to look forward to.
It’s just a great pity that there will be only one game available to the team losing the 19 February joust.
Well done, World Rugby!
World Rugby has made huge efforts to widen the chances of qualifying for the World Cup in New Zealand. Their efforts were bound to have both positive and negative effects.
On the positive side we have the wonder of Colombia and Kazakhstan meeting in the UAE.
On the negative side Colombia are still in the tournament six months after Spain were eliminated, and five weeks after they lost to Spain’s second team 47-15. Such are the gaps in playing strength around the regions of the globe.
But it means huge excitement for players who see new vistas opening up before them.
Media Coverage
World Rugby assures us: ‘The RWC 2021 Final Qualification Tournament will be live-streamed across World Rugby and RWC 2021 digital and social platforms.’
Match Details
Both to be played at the Sevens Stadium, Dubai, as follows:
19 February Kick-off 16-30 (local time), 12.30 (GMT)
25 February Kick-off 19-00 (local time), 15.00 (GMT)
