RugbyRebels

This RWC qualifying just will not go the way I think it will - Paraguay beat Brazil last weekend in the first leg of their playoff by 39-19. Not a done deal by any stretch of the imagination, with the return leg in Sao Paolo, but that's a very unexpected result.

Also just noticed that the repechage tournament is going to happen in Dubai for some reason. I suppose it is about as neutral as it's possible to get from Samoa, Namibia, Belgium, and Brazil/Paraguay, but I can't imagine it's a sporting event that the UAE are paying big petrodollars for hosting rights for, or that it'd garner much in the way of supporters. Surely more sensible to put in southern France or London - it'd be a small unfair advantage for Belgium by being next door, but there'd at least be likely to be a crowd from interested locals.

I mean, maybe I'm wrong and the UAE are paying something to host - might be that they want to get their foot in the door so much that they're willing to cover costs?

Puja

Paraguay’s joy at making it to the qualifying tournament for the final place at the 2027 World Cup proved to be short-lived. An aggregate win in the two-legged play-off against Brazil appeared to have handed them a chance to secure a place in Australia. However, the Paraguayans have admitted that an administration oversight meant an ineligible player was fielded in both play-off legs, although they insist there was no attempt to gain a sporting advantage. They have withdrawn from next month’s competition in Dubai and will be replaced by Brazil.

Final qualifying tournament:

8th November:
Samoa vs Brazil
Belgium vs Namibia

13th November:
Belgium vs Brazil
Namibia vs Samoa

18th November:
Namibia vs Brazil
Samoa vs Belgium


That's a **weird** schedule - Saturday -> Thursday -> Tuesday. You'd have to say consecutive 5-day turnarounds favour Samoa, who will have far greater squad depth than any of the other nations, even if their 1st XV is capable of losing three games on the trot to USA and Chile nowadays.

Puja