2019 Rugby World Cup

Pitbull said:
After watching England struggling on Saturday, it brought back some memories. Didn't they have an atrocious season in 2002 and then won the RWC the next year?
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80.00% winning rate for 2000
90.91% winning rate for 2001
88.89% winning rate for 2002
94.12% winning rate for 2003
 
http://kwese.espn.com/rugby/story/_...repares-zimbabwe-sables-rugby-africa-gold-cup

De Villiers tells Zimbabwe to prepare for war against Morocco

Zimbabwe coach Peter de Villiers has called for self-belief from his Zimbabwe side as they prepare "for war" in their Rugby Africa Gold Cup opener at home to Morocco in Harare on Saturday.

Zimbabwe are seeking a first Rugby World Cup appearance since 1991 and have what looks on paper a gentle start against the North Africans, who only earned their Gold Cup status this year.

All matches in this year's Gold Cup are available on Kwesé Sports 1.

De Villiers, who led South Africa to an unlucky Rugby World Cup quarterfinal loss to Australia in 2011, says his side will be ready to mount their challenge for a place in the 2019 tournament in Japan.

"At this moment we are prepared to go play tomorrow but still need these two days going forward to get ourselves ready for all the onslaughts that can come from any part of our opponents," De Villiers told reporters.

"I've been supported greatly by the union. I can say the players too have been treated professionally. We have brought a new dimension to Zim Rugby and everybody has bought into it."

...

Only the top side in the six-team Rugby Africa Gold Cup competition is guaranteed a place in next year's World Cup in Japan, with Zimbabwe among the favourites along with Namibia and Kenya.
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Good luck, I believe that de Villiers may have a place in Zimbabwe and that he has a chance at bringing them into the Rugby World Cup.

Just to add, the runners-up goes through to the World Repechage.
 
http://www.americasrugbynews.com/20...to-return-to-full-strength-for-rwc-qualifier/

Germany Set to Return to Full Strength for RWC Qualifier

Having been depleted for RWC qualifiers earlier this year Germany is set to Return to full strength for RWC qualifier against Portugal.

World Rugby’s disqualification of Romania and Spain sees Russia qualifying for RWC 2019 as Europe 1. The Europe 2 spot will go to the winner of Germany vs Portugal. The Europe 2 match will be played in Heidelberg, Germany next week on June 16. The winner will advance to face Samoa in Apia on June 30 and then host the return fixture on July 14.

The winner of Samoa vs Europe 2 will qualify for RWC 2019 as the Play-Off Winner. This team will complete Pool A, facing Japan, Ireland, Russia, and Scotland.

The loser of Samoa vs Europe 2 will yet have a shot at reaching Japan 2019. The team will enter repechage, joining Canada, Africa 2 and either the Cook Islands or Hong Kong. The four team competition will take place in France in November.
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This is now coming to a closure quickly, then it is only the World Repechage in November. My money is on either Canada or Hong Kong. That is pending on whether Samoa loses and Namibia is runners-up. Then my money would be on Samoa, Canada or Namibia, though Hong Kong looks really good they have little rugby experience outside Asia.
 
https://www.radionz.co.nz/internati...-manu-samoa-rugby-world-cup-hopes-in-jeopardy

Sport: Manu Samoa Rugby World Cup hopes in jeopardy

Samoa's Rugby World Cup hopes face another major hit after World Rugby delayed their upcoming qualifiers.

The Manu were scheduled to face Spain or Portugal in a home and away playoff next month for a place at next year's tournament.

But the proposed fixtures will now take place in July or August, while the governing body investigates an eligibility scandal engulfing European teams.

Belgium and Romania are accused of fielding ineligible players in earlier qualifying rounds, while Belgium's win over Spain in March was marred by a controversial performance by the Romanian referee, with the shock result sealing Romania's spot in Japan next year.

Director of Pacific Rugby Players Welfare, Daniel Leo, said Samoa was not consulted about the change of date and now face not being able to pick their best players.

"Either they're going to have to potentially put their contracts on the line to be able to play for Samoa, which everyone wants to do," he said.

"It's our nation of birth and heritage and we want to be at the World Cup but the reality is you've got families to feed as well and you contracts and your club is going to be your first priority.

"It puts that decision making process squarely on the shoulders of the players which shouldn't be the case."

The bulk of the Manu Samoa squad is based in Europe and will be preparing for the upcoming season with their club sides in July and August.

Daniel Leo has been contacted by some disgruntled Samoan players and said while World Rugby's regulations do require clubs to release players for World Cup qualifying matches in theory the reality faced by Pacific players is very different.

"There will be pressure on these guys, regardless of whether they're legally allowed to be released for those games," he said.

"There will be pressure on them by clubs to stay because it only takes one look from your coach in the wrong way to know that you're tredding on thin ice and a lot of players won't want to put themselves into that position."
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Samoa with a club-sided player base will in my opinion, since they have the same coach running year on end already, be abled enough to win a Portuguese or German side by playing to their strengths Barbarian-type rugby. I do understand their circumstances, and that they may end up in the World Repechage where they will be in the position to have their number 1 player choices in France.

Imagine Germany in Pool A…
 
https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/divs-zimbabwe-draw-in-world-cup-qualifier-20180616

Setback for 2019 RWC hopes of former Bok coach

Cape Town - Former South Africa coach Peter de Villiers this weekend suffered an early setback to hopes of leading two countries at the Rugby World Cup when Zimbabwe were held at home by Morocco.

And the enormity of the task facing the Springboks handler at the 2011 World Cup became clear when five-time qualifiers Namibia scored nine tries to rout Uganda.

Zimbabwe and Morocco drew 23-23 in Harare and Namibia triumphed 55-6 in Windhoek as the six-nation African qualifying competition kicked off.

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Next up for Zimbabwe, the lowest ranked of the six African contenders, is a fixture against Kenya in Nairobi on June 30.

In the second round this Saturday, Namibia enjoy home advantage again, this time against Tunisia, and Morocco host Kenya in Casablanca.
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For the World Repechage we may see either Zimbabwe or Morocco...
 
https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/germany-set-up-rugby-world-cup-play-off-with-samoa-20180616

Germany set up Rugby World Cup play-off with Samoa

Heidelberg - Second-tier European rugby's roller-coaster trip towards next year's Rugby World Cup saw Germany beat Portugal 16-13 on Saturday to set up a two-leg play-off with Samoa, the winner of which qualifies directly for Japan.

The Germans will travel to Apia on June 30 and host the return leg on July 14, with the winner going on to complete Pool A, facing Japan, Ireland, Russia and Scotland.

The loser will enter a repechage along with Canada, Africa 2 and either the Cook Islands or Hong Kong. That four-team competition takes place in France in November with the winner going into Pool B, including New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and Africa 1.
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Germany must now do their best to overthrow a 2nd (3rd’ish) string Samoa side. I hope the Samoans take it, they need to go school the Scots.
 
Namibia annihilated Tunisia, 118-0, at this rate they will take the Africa Gold Cup with a breeze.
 
I believe Russia may have earned their spot at the Rugby World Cup. Had a look at the other teams in the mid-year tests. Russia had their 1st win over Canada in Ottawa,

[video=youtube_share;2RHORmrjj_A]https://youtu.be/2RHORmrjj_A[/video]

43-20

USA slapped the Russians 62-13

I have no doubt that Samoa will take Germany with ease, even with a watered-down team. There is a good chance that Hong Kong will slap Canada at the World Repechage. My money is now on two Asian teams at the RWC.

Only Namibia looks good in the Gold Cup.
 
'No guts' - Samoa PM slams Manu Samoa rugby team amid nine-Test losing streak
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/spo...-manu-rugby-team-amid-nine-test-losing-streak

The Samoan prime minister, who is also the chair of the Samoa Rugby Union, says he verbally ripped into Manu Samoa players after two losses in the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC).



Following defeats by Fiji and Tonga, Samoa has now lost nine Test matches in a row leading into this weekend's first leg of a World Cup qualifying playoff against Germany.

The Samoa Observer reported the prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, telling parliament that he met the team last week and told them they had "no guts".

"I said, if you don't win this game then you all have to resign from the team," he said
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DanDango said:
'No guts' - Samoa PM slams Manu Samoa rugby team amid nine-Test losing streak
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/spo...-manu-rugby-team-amid-nine-test-losing-streak
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Yeah, but, and... well, Samoa haven't had a single 1st choice team since probably the Rugby World Cup. Oh, they hammered the poor Germans with a 3rd'ish string side, 66-15. They have one more game, meaning that the Germans needs to beat them by quite some world record margin next weekend.

Germany goes through to the World Repechage. Man, it is going to be between Hong Kong and Canada.
 
https://www.cnbcafrica.com/apo/2018...n-nairobi-during-the-rugby-africa-gold-cup-2/

Rugby World Cup African Qualifiers: Kenya defeats Zimbabwe today in Nairobi during the Rugby Africa Gold Cup

On Saturday June 30, the Kenya Simbas played against the Zimbabwe Sables during the 2018 Rugby Africa Gold Cup, a qualifier for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. In a hotly-contested game, Kenya beat its opponent Zimbabwe 45-36.
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Zimbabwe came 5th in 2017, it looks like a good improvement overall, however 2nd place seems likely to be between Kenya and Uganda. My money is on Kenya to go through to the World Repechage.

My World Repechage prediction, these teams will be heading to France,

1. Canada (22)
2. Germany (29)
3. Kenya (28)
4. Hong Kong (21)
 
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...-record-number-of-volunteer-applications.html

Rugby: World Cup receives record number of volunteer applications

Japan Rugby 2019 announced Monday that it has received over 38,000 applications for the volunteer program for next year's Rugby World Cup.

"Over 38,000 people across Japan applied for the 10,000 available volunteer positions, with each of the 12 host cities exceeding their targeted number of applications," the local organizing committee said in a press release.

"This represents a record as the largest number of volunteer applications and the largest volunteer workforce for any Rugby World Cup."

The tournament will be held from Sept. 20 to Nov. 2 in 12 cities stretching from the northern island of Hokkaido to the southern island of Kyushu.

"We are absolutely delighted with the incredible response to our Volunteer Program 'Team No-Side,'" said Akira Shimazu, president and CEO of the Rugby World Cup 2019 Organizing Committee.

"Having received nearly four times the number of applications compared to the number of positions available is a fantastic achievement."

World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: "Volunteers are the beating heart of Rugby World Cup and this incredible demand to be a Japan 2019 volunteer from people the length and breadth of the nation demonstrates the passion not just to be a part of the tournament, but to proudly showcase the very best of Japanese culture and hospitality."

"This demand, coupled with significant ticketing demand reinforces our belief that Rugby World Cup 2019 will be a very special event on and off the field."

The record number of applications follows on closely from the news that 2.5 million ticket applications have so far been received for the 1.8 million tickets available for the 48-game tournament.
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I wonder whether these volunteers will receive compensation, the 'Team No-Side' seems to be an Organising Committee program and since this is Japan... well. Anyhow, seeing the ticket applications, the general ticket sales may be havoc when a latecomer decides to experience the RWC in Japan, 1st come 1st serve.

The ticket ballot is open until November 12th and approved applicants will receive notice on the 26th. General ticket sales open on January 19th.
 
Namibia took the Gold Cup. Zimbabwe came in third. Kenya goes through to the World Repechage as I have it in post #137.
 
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