In what was a thrilling match at Dubai’s Sevens Stadium Belgium’s national men’s rugby team the Black Devils just missed out on what would a been an historic qualification for next year’s Rugby World Cup. Sadly though, a 13-13 draw was not quite enough. The result was a bitter disappointment for Belgium. The Belgians miss out on a place in Australia 2027 on try bonus points. Our team goes out with their heads held high though having remained undefeated in the qualification tournament with victories against Namibia and Brazil and Tuesday evening’s draw against Samoa.
Black Devils just miss out on a place in the Rugby World Cup after draw against Samoa
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Samoa started strongly. However, strong defending on the part of Belgium was able to keep them at bay. The Samoans eventually took the lead on 8 minutes when an Umaga penalty kick made it 3-0 to Samoa.
Belgium were missing the suspended loose-head prop Charles-Henri Berguet and it showed at the scrum. However, the Belgians were able to make the most of a Samoan error and lauched a sustained attack against their defensive line. The Pacific Islanders held firm though and it wasn’t until their flanker Niko Jones was given a yellow card following a high tackle on 12 minutes that Belgium were able to equalise through a Matias Remue penalty kick. Samoa missed out on an opportunity to re-take the lead just moments later when Umaga missed and the score remained 3-3.
On 23 minutes Belgium’s right wing Isaac Montoisy was given a yellow card for a no arms tackle. Belgium substituted the prop Bruno Vliegen with Basile van Parys shortly afterwards.
The Samoans looked like they were going to make their numerical advantage count a couple of minutes later. However, Umaga lost possession on the try line after some desperate defending by the Belgian wing Ervin Muric. Samoa continued to pile on the pressure. However, thanks to a breakdown penalty Belgium were able to work their way downfield.
Another penalty saw fly-half Remue kick his country into the lead. 6-3 to Belgium. Montoisy was able to return soon afterwards. 5 minutes before half time Samoa looked dangerous again. However, this danger was repelled thanks to yet another superb turnover from Belgium’s veteran scrumhalf Julien Berger.
The final minutes of the half saw Belgium on top. Remue had a chance to further increase Belgium’s lead. Sadly though, his kick went wide. The first half ended 6-3 to Belgium.
A thrilling second half ends in heartbreak
Early in the second half Samoa were forced into more errors as the Belgium line held firm. On 48 minutes Belgium were awarded a penalty close to the Samoan line. The Black Devils gave it their all in repeated phases. Somehow though the Samoans were able to hold them out. The Pacific Islanders won a crucial turnover just as it seemed their line would be breached.
With 20 minutes on the clock the pressure was starting to tell on both teams. Samoa's big moment came on 63 minutes when their replacement number 8 Abraham Papali'I scored what was the first try of the match. Umaga’s conversion put the Samoans 10-6 ahead. With the pressure off the Samoan played more freely. For the second time in the match Umaga missed a penalty on 67 minutes. However, he was on target 2 minutes later giving Samoa a 13-6 lead.
It wasn’t over yet though and Belgium hit back with a superb run from Matias Remue. This split the Samoan defence and beat multiple Samoan defenders. The Belgian captain Jean-Maurice Decubber was able to drive the ball over the line scoring Belgium’s only try of the game. Remue’s conversion levelled the score. With score tied at 13-13 Belgium had to score again as a draw would be enough to send Samoa to Australia 2027.
The Black Devils had one final chance a minute from time. Sadly though, the ball spilled forward and Samoa were able to close out the final lineout. Pride and disappointment are the best words to describe the emotions of the team that came within a hare’s breath of an historic qualification for the Rugby World Cup.
Pride and disappointment
Speaking after the match the Belgian team captain Jean-Maurice Decubber described his emotions as “half-half. There is one thing I am disappointed about the draw. I really thought we can win this game. We must win this game, so really disappointed for all the players who are at the end of their careers. Julian Bérger, Maxime Jadot, lot of players. So disappointed for that, but the other half is, I am proud of this group. We have a lot of young players and are really proud of them and we must use these results to work and to catapult us into the next Rugby World Cup in 2031. So, yeah, that's really mixed.”