This Saturday, the team led by Pablo Lemoine faces Paraguay, for its debut in the South American Rugby Championship. This is the first of the paths that can lead the national selection to the planetary tournament.
The Condors are already thinking about their next Rugby World Cup qualification process. The team led by Pablo Lemoine has three routes to be present at the global event that will be held in Australia in 2027. The path begins this Saturday, at the municipal stadium of La Pintana. Chile will begin its participation in the South American Championship, facing Paraguay (September 28) and Brazil (October 6). The two best placed teams will advance to a three-way tie, where Uruguay is already waiting.
“They are two rivals with whom we are fighting for positions in South America. Paraguay has a project that is growing, it is being built. It reminds me of Chile’s program in 2018. They have good players and good leaders, this translates on the field, they are progressing. “It’s going to be a very difficult match, they need this victory, after losing to Brazil,” said the head coach, on Cooperativa radio, referring to the debut. In August, Brazil struck the big blow by beating Paraguay 77-17.
“We must not forget that Chile replaced Brazil a few years ago. They were above us in the previous World Cup qualifying process. We have been fighting for a long time for this second place in South America. They will show their cards. This is the first game of their new era. They have a coach who knows Chilean rugby very well. It will be a very tough match, very frictional, with a very strong physical demand. “We are prepared for that,” he added, speaking of the second opponent. The Brazilian cast has as head coach to Emiliano Caffera, who worked in the Condores, as part of the staff from Lemoine.
This is not the only chance
If the national team fails to qualify directly in the South American competition, it will have a second option to qualify through the South American and Pacific qualifiers. At this stage, the second in the final triangular must face teams such as Canada, Tonga, Samoa or the United States. For France 2023, the Condors have included the World Cup in this part of the calendar.
In case of a fall, there is a third way for Chile. It is the Final Qualifying Tournament (FQT). If Lemoine’s team finishes third in the South American Championship or second in the Playoffs, they will be entered into this tournament. The competition includes the winner of the Asia/Pacific qualifiers, fifth place in the Rugby Europe Championship, third place in South America and second place in the South America/Pacific qualifiers.
The Condors have been categorical when it comes to stating their goals. “The group is happy. The doors are open to the players who have arrived, you have to show desire and commitment with the jersey. The victory against the Argentine XV was great, we had only beaten them once. Now something is happening again that, at one minute, was the start of the qualification for France 2023. I want to take it that way, that it is the starting point of the qualification for Australia 2027″ he stressed Martin Sigren captain of the national team, after the victory against the Transandean team, in Talca.
“Against Paraguay, it’s an important match. It’s going to be very tight, there’s pressure and a lot at stake. “When we return from the National Holidays, we must train, repeat the good things and correct the bad ones to have an even stronger match,” he anticipated.
Source: Latercera
I am Robert Harris and I specialize in news media. My experience has been focused on sports journalism, particularly within the Rugby sector. I have written for various news websites in the past and currently work as an author for Athletistic, covering all things related to Rugby news.
