CHILE 33 CANADA 24
Chile wins 54-46 on aggregate
Canadian rugby made history Saturday, but not in a good way.
In what is being described as the darkest day for the sport in this country, Langford-based sa国际传媒 was eliminated and will miss the World Cup for the first time, at France in 2023, after playing in all nine previous editions.
There will now need to be a brutal reckoning over how sa国际传媒, formerly a reliable second-tier rugby nation ranked No. 11 a decade ago, has free-fallen to the third tier.
World No. 28 Chile made sure of that with a 33-24 victory over No. 21 sa国际传媒 in Valparaiso to win the two-game, total points set 54-46 on aggregate score 鈥� following the narrow 22-21 Canadian victory in the first game at Starlight Stadium 鈥� in the second round of Americas regional qualifying.
sa国际传媒, which lost to the United States in the first round, is eliminated.
It鈥檚 going to be a long six years to World Cup 2027.
鈥淚t鈥檚 tough right now,鈥� Canadian head coach and Welsh-transplant Kingsley Jones of Sooke told the Canadian Press.
鈥淭he changing room is not a pleasant place. A lot of the boys are really upset, of course. It鈥檚 tough. I feel for them. None of us wanted to be part of the first team not to qualify for the World Cup.鈥�
Chile, which has never qualified for the World Cup and never before beaten sa国际传媒 in being outscored 267-83 in seven previous games, advances to meet the U.S. in the next round in July.
鈥淐hile were better than us today. They took their opportunities,鈥� said Jones.
Reaction in sa国际传媒鈥檚 tightly-knit rugby community was swift, and often harsh, on social media.
鈥淚 understand totally the disappointment among the public,鈥� said the legendary Gareth Rees of Victoria, who played in four World Cups for sa国际传媒 and two as captain.
鈥淏ut there are certain realities now in rugby. It is growing and has become a global game and it鈥檚 caught up with us. I鈥檓 disappointed for our team, which worked very hard, but couldn鈥檛 back it up.鈥�
Another former Victoria playing great and Canadian captain was also asked for a reaction. 鈥淒ark day is an apt description. I鈥檓 a bit shellshocked,鈥� said Canadian XVs and sevens icon Phil Mack, who has played in the World Cup.
鈥淢y heart goes out to our players. But these nations like Chile have invested in their programs over the years and it鈥檚 paying dividends as they are up and coming.鈥�
That was also evident by the other result Saturday as Uruguay beat the U.S. Eagles on aggregate to qualify for World Cup France 2023.
The Canadian program needs to be blown up and rebuilt from the foundations for the 2027 World Cup by giving the younger players pretty much all the Test match playing time the next six years, beginning with the Tests against No. 19 Portugal on Nov. 6 and No. 27 Belgium on Nov. 13.
There is no point now in giving that field time to older players because they will not be of help in 2027. The process has already begun as it was a fairly young roster Jones fielded in Valparaiso.
鈥淜ingsley has spent a lot of time investing in the kids,鈥� said Rees.
Mack will play a big role in the relaunch as coach of the Pacific Pride Under-23 Canadian development team.
鈥淲e need to invest time and effort into these young players coming up,鈥� said Mack.
The establishment of Major League Rugby gives them something to aim for.
鈥淏ut there has been a lack of development between our age-grade players and the pro ranks,鈥� Mack said of what really needs to be addressed in Canadian rugby.
sa国际传媒 has six years in which to fill that gap.
鈥� With a file from Canadian Press
