RWC 2027 Draw - ESP reaction (Bouza, Zabala) - RWC 2027 Draw
Pablo Bouza, head coach
On the pool Spain will play in:
"We got a very good group, competitive and evenly matched. Argentina is a Tier 1 team and we've played against the other two teams in the last two years. Fiji has played against France and England, in addition to playing in several World Cups in a row. Canada has been improving. Last summer we beat them in the final play of a very difficult match."
"Now we know who we're going to play against, and the goal for these two years is to keep improving."
On facing Los Pumas (a team he played for and was assistant coach to):
"I didn't want to play against Argentina because they're at a very high level, and besides, I played there and worked with the team for almost eight years. I know some of the staff and I have friends there. This year Argentina had a great season and is among the top four teams in the world, not in terms of ranking, but in terms of their play, even though they didn't get some results.
"It's a strange feeling going to the World Cup and playing against Argentina, but now I'm in Spain and I'm focused on the fact that we have two years of preparation left for the three matches we have to play in Australia. The most important thing isn't the opponent, but how ready we get there, how we build our path to the World Cup."
On Fiji and Canada:
"They are opponents we already know. We played Fiji twice in the last two years. We played Canada last summer and we'll face them again in July of next year. They're going to be competitive matches."
About the goal for the pool phase in RWC 2027:
"The goal is to advance to the round of 16. We shouldn't put pressure on ourselves to win a match; we have to think about getting there in the best possible shape, with the best players and the best preparation."
On preparations for RWC 2027:
"In 2026, we'll be playing against Tier 2 countries; that's already confirmed. We have the Rugby Europe Championship in February and March, in July we'll play against Canada, the United States and Tonga, and at the end of the year against Uruguay, Chile and Samoa. These are opponents we're on equal footing with, and they should all be very even matches. We've already put RWC qualification behind us, and now the competition among the players begins, and the staff will have to choose the best players to go to the World Cup."
Regarding the squad for RWC 2027 now that they know the teams they'll face:
"Knowing the opponents doesn't change the squad. We have the core of the team and we will probably call up the U18 and U20 players, and if they're good players they have a chance to go to the World Cup. In some positions, we're looking to have three or four options."
Regarding the new Rugby World Cup competition format:
"It is very good for Tier 2 teams. Being able to aim to reach the second stage of the tournament, after many years without playing in World Cups, is a positive thing for Spain. Every match will be the most important, and it's a great opportunity for us.”
Regarding the RWC schedule, which will be released in 2026:
“The order of the matches isn't as important as minimising travel between venues. We'll all be on equal footing, and the most important thing today was knowing who we're playing against.”
Jon Zabala, captain
On the draw:
“I’m very happy to know the group we’re in for the Rugby World Cup. We have a good feeling about it, having played Canada and Fiji in the summer and in the last window and came close. We also have Los Pumas, who are a Tier 1 nation, so we’ll have to prepare well to face them.”
On whether he spoke with Los Pumas captain and Pau clubmate Julián Montoya about the draw:
“We trained this morning and when the forwards' practice finished, we found out we’d be playing against each other. We joked a bit about it, took it in good humor, and kept the energy high.”
On their recent internationals and Spain's outlook for the future:
“The November window was very positive. We faced elite teams and players, and that helped us compare ourselves and see what the demands are at the highest level. In the Rugby Europe Championship we have opponents of a different calibre and the focus will be on how we want to compete. Regardless of the opponent, we’ll have to maintain a high standard and improve it for the Rugby World Cup.”
On the new RWC format:
"It's a different format and it's very good for Tier 2 nations. It's a smaller pool, but with more competitive matches, and for Tier 2 countries it can offer a better chance of advancing to the second round."
