Final World Cup spot confirmed as Belgium miss out on first ever appearance
Final World Cup spot confirmed as Belgium miss out on first ever appearance
Samoa needed just a draw against Belgium to confirm their attendance at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, and a draw was all they could muster in a fiercely entertaining round three of the final qualifying tournament.
The tournament to decide who would take the final spot in Australia consisted of the following four teams:
- Sudamérica Rugby Championship 2025 third place – Brazil
- South America/Pacific Play-off loser – Samoa
- Rugby Europe Men’s Championship 2025 fifth place – Belgium
- Africa/Asia Play-off winner (Rugby Africa Men’s Cup 2025 runner-up v Asia Rugby Men’s Championship runner-up) – Namibia
Samoa and Belgium both had an opportunity to make the competition, but they had very different incentives.
Samoa have never missed out on the top tournament since being included for the first time in 1991, whilst Belgium have never qualified for the World Cup in their history.
As it was, Belgium will have to continue their wait, with Samoa finishing the final qualifying tournament on more points due to achieving two bonus point victories in their first two matches, compared to Belgium’s one.
Match report
Despite the limited number of supporters watching, it was clear to see what this occasion meant to both sides. They started fiercely, swinging the ball wide with an intensity that would not waver for the next 80 minutes of gametime.
Samoa took an early three-point lead through the boot of former Wasps and England player Jacob Umaga. Many expected this to settle the nerves of the hosts, but just minutes later, Samoan number 7, Niko Jones, was fortunate to be issued just a yellow card for a dangerous high tackle.
With Samoa down to 14 men, Toulouse and Belgium number 10 Matias Remue slotted the resulting penalty to level the scores. Umaga had the opportunity to regain the lead just minutes later, but struck it wide from in front of the posts.
As the Samoan number seven rejoined the field, Belgium’s number 14, Isaac Montoisy, exited for the sin bin himself.
With the man advantage, Samoa had the opportunity to take the lead, but lost the ball on the Belgian line. The visitors turned it around, working the ball upfield from the goalline dropout, before scoring three points of their own through Remue again.
Belgium were fully in control as the first half came to a close, and even had a chance to extend their lead in the final play. The impressive number 10 missed the uprights, however, in an action he would have rued later on.
Second half
Samoa came out firing in the second half, but simple mistakes were rife. Replacement props Sama Malolo and Tietie Tuimauga showed their indiscipline just eight minutes after arriving on the field, causing a penalty to be overturned. Solid defence from the fired-up Samoans ensured it came to nothing, but they were fortunate.
After what had been an error-ridden first half for Samoa, the nine-time World Cup attendees were intent on recovering the scoreline, and did so through a close-range Abraham Papali’i score following a period of hard-fought pressure.
Umaga got the extras before adding another penalty just six minutes later to take Samoa ahead by seven points.
Needing a victory, Belgium needed to return fire quickly. A trundling try by flanker Jean-Maurice Decubber following an immense break by Remue brought the score to within two, before the playmaker added the extra two.
It was now crunch time. The scores were level, and opportunities were scarce.
Samoa dug deep, winning a scrum on the halfway line, which they kicked deep. Not needed to win the game, knowing that a draw was enough, the men in blue thumped the ball far beyond the boundaries, calling to an end a truly spectacular test match and Belgium’s global hopes.
Final Score: Samoa 13-13 Belgium