Malta and Bosnia & Herzegovina are through to the next stage of regional qualification for Rugby World Cup 2019 following this weekend’s results in Rugby Europe’s Conference system.
Malta celebrated winning the Conference 1 South title with a 14-14 draw away to Croatia, which sets up a probable play-off against 1 North champions-elect Czech Republic, while Austria’s 29-12 loss to Serbia in Belgrade handed the 2 South title to Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Bosnia & Herzegovina will play the winners of 2 North in the play-offs, with Hungary looking to be their most likely opponents as they only need two points from their final game - a trip to Finland - to overhaul Denmark at the top of the table.
The Danes lead Hungary in the standings by one point after they completed their fixtures by overwhelming Estonia 75-12 in atrocious conditions in Tallinn.
MORRIS MEN ON THE MARCH
A 70th-minute penalty from James Morris ensured Malta ended their campaign unbeaten. Two earlier penalties from Morris and an unconverted try from centre Dominic Busuttil had put the Island side in control at 11-0 after 52 minutes, but Croatia hit back with two converted tries in the space of six minutes to lead by three points before Morris levelled the scores with his third strike.
Malta lose five-hundredths of a rating point for their failure to beat opponents who are 14 places - and over three points - behind them in the rankings, but they remain unchanged in 42nd place.
The result of Latvia’s match at home to Sweden may have been immaterial to the outcome of the 1 North title race – one that the Czech Republic have all but mathematically sewn up – but they did improve their rating by 0.59 of a point to stay in 51st place. Sweden drop one place to 58th with the Philippines the beneficiaries.
Austria’s third straight defeat to Serbia not only cost them a chance of making it to Japan in 2019, but also a loss of 1.06 points and a fall of three places in the rankings. Austria started the day in 82nd place but finished in 85th – six places below Serbia, who move above Peru, Thailand and Pakistan.
The first meeting between Estonia and Denmark ended in the Dane’s recording their biggest-ever score at this level. Emil Aagaard helped himself to a first-half hat-trick as Denmark established a 60-10 lead before the interval. They then added three more tries in a much more even-handed second half.
The victory did not come with any rating point reward, though, as the Estonian Union does not enjoy full member status of World Rugby.
JAPAN UP THEIR GAME
Following on from their less than convincing 47-29 win over Korea in Incheon a week ago, Japan turned on the style in front of their own fans at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo to beat the same opponents 80-10 in the second round of the Asia Rugby Championship.
Jamie Joseph’s side racked up 12 tries, including a hat-trick for right wing Amanaki Lotoahea, as the Brave Blossoms put 80 points on Korea for the sixth time in their history.
Japan's forwards upped their game from the week before to provide plenty of front-foot ball for the backs to exploit and they led 31-5 at the break thanks to tries from Samuela Anise, Lotoahea, Yutaka Nagare, Naoki Ozawa and Akihito Yamada and three conversions from Jumpei Ogura. Three of the tries came while Korean tight-head Kwang Sik Kim was in the sin bin.
It was a case of more of the same in the second period with Japan adding seven more tries. Lotoahea bagged two more with Atsushi Sakate, Rikiya Matsuda, Yamanaka, Ryoto Nakamura and Takeshi Hino dotting down, Ogura adding two more conversions and debutant Takuya Yamasawa kicking five from five.
Japan will now face Hong Kong at home on 6 May and away on 13 May.
The pool draw for Rugby World Cup 2019 takes place in Kyoto, Japan, on 10 May, 2017. Join the Front Row HERE to be the first to receive all the latest news and ticketing updates for Japan 2019 and follow @RugbyWorldCup.
