Samoa Survive Huge Belgium Scare To Reach World Cup

Final Qualification Tournament, 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup

Samoa 13

Try: Papali'i Con: Umaga Pens: Umaga 2

Belgium 13

Try: Decubber Con: Remue Pens: Remue 2

Belgium narrowly grounded to scope their first men's Rugby World Cup arsenic they drew 13-13 pinch Samoa, who qualified astatine their expense.

Samoa's triumph ensured they topped nan standings successful nan Final Qualification Tournament for nan 2027 World Cup successful Australia pinch 12 points - conscionable 1 constituent supra nan Belgians.

Belgium led 6-3 pinch 17 minutes remaining acknowledgment to 2 punishment kicks from nan footwear of Matias Remue astatine nan Sevens Stadium successful Dubai.

When Abraham Papali'i came disconnected nan chair to people a 63rd-minute effort for Samoa, and Jacob Umaga converted and past added a penalty, it seemed nan World Cup regulars had yet taken control.

But pinch 7 minutes remaining Jean-Maurice Decubber burrowed complete from adjacent scope aft a prestigious break by Toulouse subordinate Remue, and erstwhile Remue slotted nan conversion to level nan scores, Belgium's Black Devils were conscionable a people distant from a maiden World Cup appearance.

However, it was not to beryllium arsenic Samoa controlled possession and territory successful nan past fewer minutes earlier Papali'i kicked nan shot into touch to seal victory.

Samoa skipper Theo McFarland acknowledged "it wasn't pretty" but was pleased his broadside sewage nan occupation done to suffice for their 10th World Cup.

"We said each week astir giving Belgium respect and in installments to them, they stuck successful it and gave it to us. It's a draw, but we'll return nan summons to nan World Cup," Saracens guardant McFarland said.

"The full week we said astir trusting nan process and backing each different up."

Belgium skipper Decubber said location was a "lot of disappointment" aft going truthful adjacent but promised they will "come backmost harder" to suffice for nan World Cup successful 2031.

"We're really sad - I deliberation we deserved it. We worked very difficult for it successful this crippled and I consciousness sad for nan team," he said.

"We did a bully tournament, we really thought we could get to nan World Cup."