Chile have qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia after a 31-12 victory against Samoa in Viña del Mar, becoming the 23rd team to confirm their participation in the tournament.
As the first leg in Salt Lake City, Utah, finished in a 32-32 draw, Los Cóndores went through 63-44 on aggregate.
Still in contention
Five teams are guaranteed to represent the Americas at RWC 2027: Argentina, Uruguay, USA, Canada, and now Chile.
This is the most from the region at a single Rugby World Cup, with possibly a sixth team joining them, depending on the fates of Brazil or Paraguay, who are both still in contention.
Samoa have been ever-present at the Rugby World Cup since they made their tournament debut in 1991, and their hopes of continuing that run are still not over.
As losers of the South America/Pacific playoff, they will now join Belgium, Namibia, and either Brazil or Paraguay in the Final Qualification Tournament, which will be played in Dubai from 8-18 November, 2025 at The Sevens Stadium.
The winner of the Final Qualification Tournament will receive the 24th and final ticket to Australia 2027.
VIDELA BOOTS CHILE TO VICTORY
With the support of a boisterous 20 000-capacity crowd behind them at Estadio Sausalito, Chile shrugged off the disappointment of throwing away a 19-point lead in the first leg to close out the victory that will see them play in a second consecutive Rugby World Cup.
Once again, Santiago Videla played a starring role, kicking 16 points to add to the 12 he scored a week ago.
Racked by injuries, suspensions and unavailabilities, Samoa struggled to assert themselves in the first half, and two defensive lapses led to Chile tries, which followed two Videla penalties and an earlier missed shot at goal from Samoa’s Martini Talapusi.
The first try came while Samoan number eight, Abraham Papali’i, who scored twice in the first leg, was punished for a rising penalty count with a yellow card.
Samoa failed to deal with a high kick and Chile’s hooker Diego Escobar collected the bouncing ball and then found Santiago’s brother, Benjamín Videla, charging up on his shoulder to score. With the conversion, Chile led 11-0.
Big tackle
Chile’s second try on 32 minutes arose from a big tackle from Nicolás Saab on Samoa fullback Lolagi Visinia in the in-goal area after he’d collected Matías Garafulic’s grubber kick.
The ball went loose when contact was made, and Inaki Ayarza was on hand to dot the ball down. This time Videla was unable to the extras, his touchline conversion striking the upright.
With four minutes to go before half-time, Samoa finally got some territory and possession in Chile’s 22, and after a series of pick-and-goes by the forwards, the ball was flung wide to centre Melani Nanai, who caught the ball on the bounce and slipped through a tackle and scored. Talapusi converted.
On the stroke of half-time, Escobar had a try disallowed for a double movement, and some heroic goal-line defending followed as Samoa fought to stay in the contest.
Came back fighting
Just as they had done a week ago, Samoa came back fighting in the second half, taking control of possession, and Chile had to come up with a couple of crucial turnovers to ward off the threat. But they were powerless to stop the Samoan forwards from rumbling over on 62 minutes, with replacement Jonah Mau’u coming up with the ball.
Aside from one brilliant breakout, which ended when number eight Alfonso Escobar was stopped 10 metres short of the visitors’ line, Chile hadn’t had a sniff of scoring a try.
Videla’s trusty boot gave them some breathing space, though, when he nailed two more penalties and the nervous hush that had temporarily descended on Estadio Sausalito was lifted as Chile’s fans started to believe again.
Down by 12 points and with the clock ticking down, Samoa needed something special. However, they lacked the necessary cutting edge to break through and it was Saab who showed them the way.
The 20-year-old stole the ball on his own 22, burst clear and then combined with his fellow winger, Garafulic, for a brilliant score that brought the house down.
Qualified teams
The 2027 Rugby World Cup will be the first to host 24 teams, up from the 20 who featured at the most tournament in France.
The following 23 teams have booked their spots in Australia in two years’ time:
South Africa, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Japan, Fiji, Tonga, Canada, USA, Portugal, Georgia, Spain, Romania, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile.
