Boots and all | Rugby World Cup: Hong Kong’s ruthless Japan 2019 mission has Canada watching their backs – here’s who they must beat
Leigh Jones’ side are set to be the highest-ranked team in November’s repechage after demolishing the Cook Islands – can they make it to Japan 2019?
While Hong Kong’s demolition of the Cook Islands hasn’t exactly sent shock waves through the global rugby community, it certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed as Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifying edges closer to conclusion.
The series was somewhat of an unknown for Hong Kong going in and that uncertainty has remained, but now it is the Canadians sounding unsure as they try to map out how likely they are to make it to Japan.
The Vancouver Sun decried the “brutal form” that has seen Canada slip below Hong Kong in the world rankings – 21 v 22 – and noted the “fragile” Canadians are anything but a sure thing come November.
They have been struggling for some time and lost 43-20 to Russia in June, a team who only qualified for the World Cup because Romania and Spain were disqualified for fielding ineligible players.