2021 Qualifiers

[langpark]

Greece vs Norway has not been confirmed yet, but it's looking like it will be in May 2019. Curtain-raiser to a League One, Championship or SL match.

 

[rhino]

Looks like South Africa have decided to not waste their time or money sending a side to the states to play a mini tournament the feel they have no chance of winning.

 

[rhino]

The Rhinos will be there for the qualifiers

 

[Pommy]

The Rhinos will be there for the qualifiers

I’m glad to hear it, are you involved in the team? I think you quoted me and forgot to leave a comment.

 

[Burns]

The Rhinos will be there for the qualifiers

Source?

 

[yakstorm]

The Repechange Qualifier looks like it will no longer be a round robin, instead South Africa will play Cook Islands, most likely in Sydney, with the winner then playing the US.

Not sure why MEA was removed by the RLWC team especially as it was them and the RLIF who talked about the SA v Cook Islands clash and changes to the Qualifiers in York.

 

[rhino]

The Repechange Qualifier looks like it will no longer be a round robin, instead South Africa will play Cook Islands, most likely in Sydney, with the winner then playing the US.

Not sure why MEA was removed by the RLWC team especially as it was them and the RLIF who talked about the SA v Cook Islands clash and changes to the Qualifiers in York.

 

[rhino]

Spot on
You know your stuff Yakstorm

 

[Force]

The Repechange Qualifier looks like it will no longer be a round robin, instead South Africa will play Cook Islands, most likely in Sydney, with the winner then playing the US.

Not sure why MEA was removed by the RLWC team especially as it was them and the RLIF who talked about the SA v Cook Islands clash and changes to the Qualifiers in York.

Shux, wonder why they changed it now. Hopefully the game between the US and the winner isnt a week after the Cooks vs SA game, be a advantage to the US.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

A good look to who? How many will even know or care that the USA failed to qualify for the 2021 WC if they actually do host in 2025?

I see your point. I guess the rugby community (both codes) would be being referred to as they would be the ones we would be looking to, to provide the bulk of the support.

 

[Force]

I think the difference is that Tonga will always rely on heritage players due to their extremely low population. The thing I want for Tonga and Samoa in the future is to have a core group of players that don't jump ship to Aus or NZ the second they come calling.

Also, on Jamaica - good on them. They have certainly done some great work domestically and I hope that this result and the world cup appearance takes the game to another level and that they are able to field a quality side full of born and bred Jamaicans in a decade or so.

They'll always be heritage teams as they would want to pick the best players eligible for them and the best usually play in the top comps ie, NRL or SL. It just looks sour when people complain about certain teams having heritage players while turning a blind eye to other heritage teams.

 

[Force]

A good look to who? How many will even know or care that the USA failed to qualify for the 2021 WC if they actually do host in 2025?

Like I said, I hope it doesnt halt their progress domestically if they miss out.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

They'll always be heritage teams as they would want to pick the best players eligible for them and the best usually play in the top comps ie, NRL or SL. It just looks sour when people complain about certain teams having heritage players while turning a blind eye to other heritage teams.

Acknowledging and actually mentioning Tonga and Samoa's unique situation is not turning a blind eye to it.

 

[Springs09]

The Repechange Qualifier looks like it will no longer be a round robin, instead South Africa will play Cook Islands, most likely in Sydney, with the winner then playing the US.

Not sure why MEA was removed by the RLWC team especially as it was them and the RLIF who talked about the SA v Cook Islands clash and changes to the Qualifiers in York.

lol why does the USA get first ranking? They are currently second-ranked in their qualifying group.

I think a better play-off system would include the 4th-ranked European nation from the European play-offs next year.
Say USA v Russia, South Africa v Cook Islands
Winners go through to the World Cup.

 

[Pommy]

lol why does the USA get first ranking? They are currently second-ranked in their qualifying group.

I think a better play-off system would include the 4th-ranked European nation from the European play-offs next year.
Say USA v Russia, South Africa v Cook Islands
Winners go through to the World Cup.

It is worth remembering these sides are very reliant on semi pros and amateurs they have already had a lengthy qualifying process. USA had two week this year and Russia will have had to have taken a bit of time off work this year. Where do we make it too difficult for teams to bother?

 

[Springs09]

It is worth remembering these sides are very reliant on semi pros and amateurs they have already had a lengthy qualifying process. USA had two week this year and Russia will have had to have taken a bit of time off work this year. Where do we make it too difficult for teams to bother?

At least to the point where a team can't qualify by not winning a game. With the Euros next year, either 2nd placed team in both pools can qualify for the World Cup with a loss, a draw and a better for and against than the 3rd placed team, similar to Samoa in the World Cup last year.

And how much time off work would they need to play one more game? We had a bunch of amateur countries come to Australia this year for the much less important Emerging Nations. Both Russia and USA only had 2 games.

 

[Pommy]

At least to the point where a team can't qualify by not winning a game. With the Euros next year, either 2nd placed team in both pools can qualify for the World Cup with a loss, a draw and a better for and against than the 3rd placed team, similar to Samoa in the World Cup last year.

And how much time off work would they need to play one more game? We had a bunch of amateur countries come to Australia this year for the much less important Emerging Nations. Both Russia and USA only had 2 games.

A lot of those players were Australians

 

[Springs09]

A lot of those players were Australians

And? is it okay for Australians to take off work?

It's seriously not that many games. Most of those European countries play in the Euro Bs or Cs every year. If countries are still at the point where they can't play games because their players can't get time off work well maybe they shouldn't be in the World Cup qualifiers. How are they going to get 7-8 weeks off work to play in the World Cup if they can't afford to play 1 or 2 more qualifying matches?

 

[Pommy]

And? is it okay for Australians to take off work?

It's seriously not that many games. Most of those European countries play in the Euro Bs or Cs every year. If countries are still at the point where they can't play games because their players can't get time off work well maybe they shouldn't be in the World Cup qualifiers. How are they going to get 7-8 weeks off work to play in the World Cup if they can't afford to play 1 or 2 more qualifying matches?

Well you were talking about the USA playing possibly Russia. Americans get a lot less leave than Australians so yes it probably is ok for Australians to take time off. I’m not sure what the case is in Russia.
People and employers and wives etc might be willing to work it out for a World Cup. But if your talking about multiple weeks over multiple years it’s going to become problematic. Also none of these teams are going to need 7 weeks off for a World Cup.

 

[Springs09]

Well you were talking about the USA playing possibly Russia. Americans get a lot less leave than Australians so yes it probably is ok for Australians to take time off. I’m not sure what the case is in Russia.
People and employers and wives etc might be willing to work it out for a World Cup. But if your talking about multiple weeks over multiple years it’s going to become problematic. Also none of these teams are going to need 7 weeks off for a World Cup.

That was an example. A lot of the USA team play in Australia or England and they have played 2 qualifiers so far. It's also no more than the USA are playing next year - 1 game. They generally play more than that per year so I don't see what the problem is.

And who says they won't need 7 weeks? Usually you would say no, USA are not going to make the finals, but they did in 2013. They would also have 3 definite games and likely 2 weeks warm-up in the host country so 5-6 weeks isn't too far off.

They already play multiple weeks over multiple years?