RWC 2027 draw - CHI reaction (Lemoine, Saavedra) - RWC 2027 Draw

Pablo Lemoine, head coach

On facing Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong in Group A:

"If you ask me if I'm happy with the draw, the answer is no. I would have preferred not to be in Group A. It has several drawbacks, such as the limited number of tickets available since it includes the host team, the neighbouring team, and another team from nearby. These are limitations for the Chilean community at the World Cup. These are negative aspects.

"On the other hand, it's good to play against the host nation. It will be difficult to secure the bonus points we'll need against the Wallabies and All Blacks if we want to beat Hong Kong and try to advance to the next round."

Regarding the new format of RWC 2027:

"In this context, it's tough. I'd say there are several groups that are more accessible for securing the bonus point and the points difference [to advance to the next round]. We landed in the most difficult group and we'll have to fight for it or aim for several ties on points with other groups. And if we manage a victory, we're in. We'll do the maths to see how the results will play out."

On the challenge of facing Australia and New Zealand:

"For us, everything is a win, everything is an advantage; from playing in Rugby World Cup to the matches we have against these two teams. Against Hong Kong, it will be our World Cup final - the goal is to win our first match in a Rugby World Cup.

"These challenges are made for us. It's difficult, but we have to face them head-on and approach them with complete realism, as we always have, with the honesty of knowing that it's going to be extremely tough. We're going to seize our opportunities and we have to exhaust them. If we do that, we'll be at peace with ourselves. The objective will be to win the match we have to win and achieve the goals we set for ourselves."

On the match against Hong Kong China:

"We have a mission to win a match and we have to be aware of that. The opportunity is there and we can't let it slip away. We're going to play against Hong Kong in 2026 and it will help as a point of reference. They've changed a lot - they now have a programme with 30 professional players and in the coming weeks they're playing against the Brumbies, professional teams from Japan and Japan XV. They also travel a lot to Australia and New Zealand, they have the advantage of having a lot of competition nearby. And it is a union with many resources.

"I have a lot of respect for them. It won't be anything like the team we played against in Chile. We have to stop talking about Australia and New Zealand. At some point, we'll plan our preparation for those matches, but we have to understand that this preparation has to directly influence the match against Hong Kong.

"They're seen as a weaker opponent, but they have a lot of money and the ability to convince teams to play in Hong Kong. They're going to have a lot of interaction with Tier 1 countries in the coming years, so they're going to be a different team to the one we're used to."

On preparations for RWC 2027:

"What changes is the level you're playing at. In the next two years, we won't have matches against Australia and New Zealand, and probably not against Tier 1 teams. When you don't play against those teams, it's difficult to prepare. The difference in preparation, stemming from a lack of familiarity, is hard to explain. We recently played against Italy and felt a difference compared to what we're used to. We struggled to find our footing at times, so imagine how it will be against these opponents who are at a higher level.

"As a Tier 2 country, we should be proud of the public and private support we receive. A great deal of effort is being made in Chile, and hopefully this will continue, helping support the growth and preparation needed for these mega-events. The key is to broaden the reach of rugby. This comes at a cost, and we are prepared to contribute. I am eternally grateful for the trust placed in Chile Rugby and the Los Cóndores' project."

On how Chile is approaching the coming years:

"It's easily measurable because we're fortunate to have almost 80% of the squad here in Chile. The priority for the next two years will be improving the players' physical, technical and tactical abilities. Before thinking about a strategy for Rugby World Cup, we'll need to know what kind of player and team profile we'll have for the tournament."

Clemente Saavedra, captain

On playing in Group A:

“We know Hong Kong. We've played against them recently,  know their style of play, and it won't be easy. Then we have two tremendous matches, every player's dream: facing Australia, the host nation, and New Zealand. We're very happy to have been drawn against them.”

On whether he spoke with his teammates about the Pool they are in:

“Yes, we talked amongst ourselves and we're excited. The goal remains the same as when we qualified for this Rugby World Cup: to win a match and do everything possible to move into the next round, regardless of the opponent. As a group, we like challenges and, although it might sound ambitious, we're going to go for the bonus point against Australia and New Zealand; that's the message. If we believe we can achieve it, we're closer to doing so.”

Regarding what has changed in Los Cóndores since the 2023 Rugby World Cup:

“We’ve improved by having more experienced players making on-field decisions; that’s the biggest step forward. We’ve also improved our defence. We play to our strengths, which we know, and that makes us more convinced in terms of the game plan we want to implement.

"Today we are in a completely different process to the one for 2023 because we have more players well prepared, and with more years of experience at the highest level.”

Regarding the role of Selknam, Chile’s franchise in Super Rugby Americas:

“Selknam is useful to us, it’s a platform for developing players, that’s the goal. In the Nations Cup, we’ll be able to prepare things, but we need matches against Tier 1 teams. Hopefully, in 2027 we can play against teams of that level allowing us to be better prepared. We’re going to do everything in our power to arrive in Australia for the World Cup in the best possible shape.”

On the match against Hong Kong:

“I imagine it will be our first match at the RWC, as they might go for Wallabies v All Blacks in the opener; so we're going to prepare for it as if it were a final. Then we'll go on to play Australia and New Zealand, who have a different style of rugby, more open and less direct, so we'll have to prepare for that.”

On playing against the All Blacks and the buzz surrounding that team:

“They are a huge team because of the media attention they generate. They are the team we all watched as kids. We have to take advantage of that opportunity but at the same time we have to be professional, put that aside, and perform to our best ability on the field. We have to focus on playing our best match against them and forget about the expectations and the atmosphere surrounding playing against the All Blacks.”