World Rugby does not refer to them as tier 2 nations. Neither perhaps should we.
The teams that have traditionally been excluded from rugby’s top table gave a decent account of themselves at this year’s Rugby World Cup, with Portugal not just winning a game at the tournament proper for the first time but conquering hearts and minds in doing so.
Portugal, who just about sneaked through the back door in qualification, made the most of their opportunity. Their 18-all draw against Georgia, who for long have been knocking on the door for Six Nations entry, or an expanded version thereof, signalled their distinct upward curve in performance.
With Fiji having everything to play for in their final pool match to ensure qualification ahead of Australia, their match against Portugal was seen as a routine affair. However, the men from the Iberian Peninsula sprang a massive shock, winning 24-23 — but Fiji still went through to the quarters ahead of Australia.
The growth potential for teams like Portugal is not clear, however, as rugby remains a sport rooted in the established order. World Rugby has indicated its priority is to provide playing opportunities for teams like Portugal. Os Lobos received a hero’s welcome when they touched down in Lisbon, but their path to the next level is yet to emerge.
There is no doubt the increased spend World Rugby committed to some of the emerging rugby nations has paid dividends.
Sure, there were some lopsided scorelines — especially in matches involving Namibia and Romania — but generally speaking this World Cup produced far fewer ballooning scorelines. The biggest winning margin came in the 96-0 beating France handed Namibia, but it of course came at a terrible cost to the host nation.
Allister Coetzee’s team also suffered heavy losses to New Zealand and Italy but came within 10 points of Uruguay.
Teams like Tonga, Fiji and Samoa did not suffer an inferiority complex at this World Cup.
Though his team lost 49-18 to the Springboks, Tonga head coach Toutai Kefu perhaps summed it up best.
“We talked about it. Put in a performance out there that when you come off the field you can be absolutely proud of, your family is proud of, your village is proud of — regardless of the score. I think they did that,” he said of his team’s performance against the Springboks.
While Portugal, Fiji and at times Tonga shone, more established teams like Italy again failed to make the step up.
Providing financial help in their coaching or in their refereeing programmes, for example, or in helping them organise some fixtures, or giving some logistical help as well. And all of this is related, overall, to the discussion on the calendar, and the possibility for these teams to play more rugby, more often, at a higher level
— RWC tournament director Michel Poussau
Italy defeated Wales in the Six Nations last year but before that were without a win in the competition since 2015. They were well beaten by New Zealand and France in pool A and were 10 points behind Uruguay at halftime before turning things around in the second half.
“For all of these participating unions, World Rugby must — and we will — provide them with greater certainty, and greater opportunity to improve on the world stage. On this you will hear more shortly from us,” said tournament director Michel Poussau.
Poussau said Portugal’s performances were “heroic”.
“We are all trying to reduce the gap, trying to help the teams have more fixtures in the future and be able to play more rugby against more nations than they currently do. So that’s part of what we, World Rugby, are doing, in terms of helping these development unions.
“Providing financial help in their coaching or in their refereeing programmes, for example, or in helping them organise some fixtures, or giving some logistical help as well. And all of this is related, overall, to the discussion on the calendar, and the possibility for these teams to play more rugby, more often, at a higher level ... We will display more information on this shortly.”
He is basically owning up to is what this World Cup has again highlighted — and this tends to be a Groundhog quadrennial repeat: nations who don’t compete in elite competitions tend to be left behind.
The much-mooted World League can help scratch that itch, but only if it has a promotion-relegation pillar as part of its larger framework. Ironically, it is federations like Italy who are resistant to change.
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