The Condors head out to play their world final against Canada

Win to change. This is the motto the Condors repeat until they are convinced. “This sentence has accompanied us throughout this process, and it has been very useful for the team to learn how to win, and that is very important” says Paul Lemoine, the the head coach of the Chilean rugby team, which tonight (21:00) face Canada, in Langford, for the first leg of the France 2023 World Cup qualifiers. If this key is overcome, the national team will be very close to this dream.

The mission is very complex, but in the Chilean team there is full conviction that the objective of qualifying for a planetary rendezvous for the first time can be achieved. “We are convinced that we will do it” said Captain Martin Sigren. “In these games, the mental part is half of what happens on the pitch. Physically and technically there are not so many differences. The key will be to know how to play a world final , that’s how we consider it, where the decision-making will define the game. This may be a historic feat. And, if we want to fill it, that’s the way,” says the striker, giving an example of the group’s mindset: “After coming all this way, you come in with the belief that this is what you prepared for. This is our grand finale. And this is the way. Our goal is to be the best Chilean team in history. And when the training circles close, I already have little to say to my teammates. We’re so aligned in terms of values, motivations, that we just have to go out and play.”

Lemoine, for his part, anticipates what the plan is against the Americans. “With the boys, we are talking about two 80-minute halves. The first game will help a lot in terms of knowledge. The idea is to try to close the result as much as possible or win, which is a possibility we have. The way I see them, we are going to aspire to a lot” He says.

On the Canadian team, the Uruguayan coach recognizes the difficulties it offers, but does not lose his composure. “He is a rival who has played in all the World Cups, he has professional players, but we are convinced that we can do it. And that belief has been building since 2019 and is about breaking those things that happened before,” he says.

The duel will take place on a synthetic field and the forecast indicates the possibility of rain. However, these conditions do not scare the national team. “We are very used to it, because the Charrúa stadium in Montevideo also has a synthetic pitch. In addition, we will play the second leg (October 9, tickets via Puntoticket) in Valparaíso, in conditions that can favor us a lot, ”concludes the head coach.

The Condors’ campaign has garnered much attention in Chilean rugby history. From Ireland, where he has been living for a few years, Sebastián Berti has followed the campaign and believes in this process. “It is clear that we are not favorites, because we are a team that lost three years ago by several points against Canada. Both teams have come a long way. Their preparation has been better than ours because they have more games, many of them play in the MRL, in the European leagues and they are used to these instances, but Chile has grown a lot “, he specifies.

Likewise, he thinks the recent triumph against the Argentinian XV could be an important emotional factor. “We had never seen Chile lose by two try and climbing. This part of surprise can be the key” , Express. And he adds: “In this first match, you have to defend well in three quarters and I hope that the back to live up to theirs. On forward we are stronger than ever and the meleealso”.

The former selected Pablo Demaría underlines the richness of the team. “Before, we had three front rows and now there are six. Before, the team played well for 60 minutes, then they faltered and now they can do well for 80 minutes. he argues.

Likewise, the background work stands out. “The Chilean defense has grown a lot, which has allowed us to build from there. It’s hard to make them try And that’s fine. I think the game is defined for anyone by a narrow difference” phrasing.