The player surprised everyone with his try in the first leg of the qualifiers for a place in the 2023 World Cup against the United States. The Chilean rugby team has fallen to the North Americans, but the narrow scoreline leaves them with options to come back. “By fixing details we have real chances”, assures the rugby player.
They were running 50 minutes at the Santa Laura stadium when Rodrigo Fernández impressed not only the public, but the whole world. The Cóndores lost 6-12 to their counterparts in the United States, in qualifying for the 2023 World Cup in France, when the national team’s 10 escaped seven rivals and brought Chile closer to the scoreboard. With the try the team was still down, but now down 11-12 and with a long game ahead.
In the end, the score was 21-22 in favor of the visit. However, this conquest changed the landscape. The Americans seemed more comfortable on the damaged turf of Independencia, but Chile then prevailed. The party had it all. Even a power outage. The United States took advantage again, but towards the end the Chileans tightened the score, to reach the rematch alive in Denver.
The Condors claim to have changed their mentality. in conversation with Jock , the author of the piece that has been around the world says so. But it also adds that sports broadcasting is essential in the results you want to achieve: “Increasing the number of players and creating successful centers that allow the development of rugby players is the way.”
Something the national team captain also said a few days ago. “All the associations must join the federation and the plan must be synchronized. There are still associations that lead themselves and pursue their personal ambitions more than what we could generate nationally,” he said. Martin Sigren in an interview with The third .
Regarding the sensational game, Rodrigo Fernández assures that: “Listening to the cries and the encouragement of the people on the ground managed to give us additional energy, the one that leads you to do unique things”.
Let’s go to the quota, this Saturday, a test made by you went around the world. How was the piece born? Was it inspiration or something prepared?
He was born out of a kick from them, which was not a good kick. Whenever there are opportunities like this, we have to take advantage of them. I never thought I would go this far. Spaces opened up and I was able to take advantage of them, thank God.
Did you hear that in the TV show, the journalist recalled Maradona’s goal against the English after his great action? What feeling does such parallelism generate in you?
Frankly, it makes me laugh to make this comparison. But very happy that the move was made.
Let’s talk about the team. How are they looking for the rematch?
Well, we are waiting. We made childish mistakes for which we paid dearly. But we understand that by fixing that we have a real chance of winning the game in Denver and qualifying for the World Cup.
In recent years, the discipline has grown in the country. What is the way forward for Chile in rugby from your point of view?
Three years ago, we had a very big change in our mentality. This led to the growth we experience today. I think that’s the way to keep. Spreading rugby throughout Chile, increasing the number of players and creating successful centers for rugby players to develop is the way.
What is the Condor cap? Can you imagine France 2023?
I think we have no roof. As long as things are going well. It takes a lot of work, changes in mentality are necessary, but it is the only way forward. Obviously, we imagine playing the World Cup.
On Saturday at Santa Laura they started going downhill, it looked like they weren’t focused, but they got better and got on the scoreboard. What was missing to win?
Before the start of the match, we had promised ourselves to take less than ten penalties. We knew that otherwise it would be very difficult to win. Unfortunately, we committed fourteen. I think that’s what we pay dearly for.
How do you detail the Try game? It’s always different to experience it in the first person…
It was very nice, really. Only the spaces opened up and I managed to take advantage of them. Later, once fallen into the aim, with all my colleagues celebrating, I felt something very exciting. Special mention for the people who kept shouting and cheering. Listening to them from the court managed to give us an extra energy, the one that leads you to do unique things.
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Source: Latercera
I’m Todderic Kirkman, a journalist and author for athletistic. I specialize in covering all news related to sports, ranging from basketball to football and everything in between. With over 10 years of experience in the industry, I have become an invaluable asset to my team. My ambition is to bring the most up-to-date information on sports topics around the world.
