While Rugby World Cup 2015 ticket applications have now closed, there are two teams that are still unsure if they’ll even be there though. Russia and Uruguay played their first leg play-off at the weekend, hoping for a sport in Pool A.
Russia narrowly beat Uruguay 22-21 in the first of two legs to determine who will qualify as the 20th and final team at next year’s World Cup. One of the two sides will be part of Pool A, to take on England, Australia, Wales and Fiji.
Going into the second leg, Russia have a tiny lead, following a try from prop Grigory Tsobiladze and an excellent kicking display by flyhalf Yuri Kushnarev.
Seven Felipe Berchesi penalties kept the South Americans in contention until the very end, but they couldn’t sneak past Russia, who will need to lift themselves again for the away leg in a fortnight.
“We need to improve our discipline. We had two yellow cards today that cost us a lot,” said Russia’s coach Raphael Saint-Andre.
“In the second half we had too many penalties against. It is why they came back into the game. So with a bit more discipline, we have got a chance in Montevideo. Today their kicker was on fire and maybe it won’t be the same in two weeks.”
The return leg in Montevideo on 11th October will be streamed live on Rugbyworldcup.com
Below is a short recap from the IRB’s Total Rugby on the game, played in Krasnoyarsk.
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