For the second time running WXV3 will offer delights for all rugby fans who prefer the less familiar to the ultra-traditional.
Here are the six nations involved: Fiji, Hong Kong, Madagascar, Netherlands, Samoa and Spain. They come from four continents, with two from Europe, neither allowed into the 6 Nations, and two from Oceania. HKC, NL and Madagascar are the newcomers to the tournament.
There is a huge chasm set between the most experienced squad, Las Leones, and the least, Madagascar. This is confirmed by Kenya’s win over their African rivals 63-19 in Nairobi. The Kenyan Lionesses haven’t made it into this year’s tournament.
The fear is that the Makis will suffer sizeable defeats that could have unwelcome repercussions; not least, reducing Africa’s representation in WXV to the inevitable Springboks. That is not what World Rugby wants. (The Makis, by the way, gain their nickname form the maki, a tiny lemur that looks utterly adorable).
By contrast, the Oranjes have just gained an unexpected victory over Fijiana 12-10 in Amsterdam. This means they toppled a nation two places higher than them in the world order. They fly out to Dubai this weekend full of the joys of autumn.
Here’s my version of the fixture list:
Friday, 27 September 2024
Spain v Madagascar
KO 19:00 Local Time, 16:00 BST
Saturday, 28 September 2024
Fiji v Hong Kong China
KO 18:00 Local Time, 15:00 BST
Netherlands v Samoa
KO 20:30 Local Time, 17:30 BST
Friday, 04 October 2024
Madagascar v Hong Kong China KO 19:00 Local Time, 16:00 BST
Saturday, 05 October 2024
Fiji v Samoa
KO 18:00 Local Time, 15:00 BST
Netherlands v Spain
KO 20:30 Local Time, 17:30 BST
Friday, 11 October 2024
Samoa v Madagascar
KO 19:00 Local Time, 16:00 BST
Saturday, 12 October 2024
Netherlands v Hong Kong China KO 18:00 Local Time, 15:00 BST
Fiji v Spain
KO 20:30 Local Time, 17:30 BST
All matches to be shown on rugbypass.tv
They’ll be played in Dubai and Sharjah, neither famed for their support of the 15s game.
Structure
The patterns are as last time: each nation plays three matches only; no question of a round-robin. So much depends on which two opponents a team happens to confront.
It strikes me as a huge pity that a squad will fly halfway across the globe, only to face local rivals, not a nation they are ever likely to meet on another occasion. This happens most obviously to Spain and NL who contest the European Championship regularly; and to Fiji and Samoa – for them, even more unwelcome. Of course, they love the chance to get the better of their neighbours, but not on this occasion, surely?
If it is simply a matter of securing a place in the 2025 RWC, then so be it.
The WXV organisers still haven’t indicated whether they will alter the points system. That is surely a central issue that must be sorted. A reminder: table positions were decided on a simple points- basis. So the teams that played opponents fated to finish sixth would harvest a far greater total than their rivals. Patently unfair. And since promotion and relegation are at stake, it’s even more important that a different system is introduced for this second edition.
Rankings
Here’s how the six stand in the world order: Spain 13th, Fiji 14th, Netherlands 16th, Hong Kong China 17th, Samoa 18th, Madagascar 25th
It’s comforting to see them packed tightly together, with the one inevitable exception on the end. Madagascar occupy the same position as Colombia last year.
Madagascar won’t have the large, enthusiastic crowds to support them that flock to the stadium in Antananarivo. Indeed that was one of the two biggest black marks against Dubai as the chosen venue last year. The attendances were minute. And inevitably the heat favoured some more than others. Water-breaks aren’t the best way of speeding up the game.
A Look back
Just as a reminder, this was the make-up of WXV2 and WXV3 last year:
WXV2:
Scotland, Italy, South Africa, Japan, USA, Samoa
WXV3:
Ireland, Fiji, Spain, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Colombia
So Colombia and Kazakhstan have sadly fallen by the wayside. That is the disadvantage of promotion/relegation. Somehow WR has to ensure that that nations in their position don’t lose their competitive spirit. At the other end of the scale, the Irish spring straight into the top tier.
We can see huge disappointment coming, side by side with unutterable joy. Samoa have been demoted from WXV2; Fiji and Spain couldn’t heave themselves up to WXV2. By contrast, the Dutch will see their participation as a possible key to entry to a World Cup. The Madagascans are delighted to move closer to the big time.
