Spain v Hong Kong: Preview

Within the next year both teams will be competing for a place in the 2017 World Cup in Ireland – and it will be a tough road. Each team will have to first have to compete in their continental championship before going on a playoff, with Spain having to beat the best teams in Europe outside the Six Nations while Hong Kong will need to finish in the top two in Asia.

Spain would then have to beat the sixth team in the Six Nations in a two-leg head-to-head playoff, while Hong Kong would have win one of two places in an inter-continental tournament that will also involve African and Oceanian contenders.

Spain qualified for the World Cup in 2014, where they were ninth. Indeed they have a long and impressive World Cup history going right back to the first tournament in 1991, hosting the tournament in 2002 and missing only in 1994 (when their union withdrew at the last moment because the tournament was no sanctioned by the IRB) and 2010 (when they were beaten by Sweden).

Hong Kong, on the other hand, have never reached a World Cup but with a large and growing players base in Asia, and improving results at both sevens and fifteens are confident that their chance could come.

At first glance Spain would appear to be clear, if not overwhelming, favourites. Not only are they are home, but the latest ratings have Spain in 10thplace (ahead of Scotland and South Africa and close behind Australia) and Hong Kong in 21st(behind Belgium and just ahead of Switzerland). Spain also finished well ahead of Kazakhstan, Asia’s qualifier at the 2014 World Cup and have never lost to Asian opposition. Hong Kong, on the other hand, have never played against a team from outside Asia.

However – as with therecent game with ScotlandSpain - will not be fielding their strongest possible team as none of their sevens squad were not considered for this series, while Hong Kong have been able to select their strongest available squad, which should go some way to narrowing the gap between the teams.

Preparation for the series has been similar with internal representative series being used to spot likely new stars. Spain’s brought forward their regional championship ended to the beginning of this month, while Hong Kong introduced their three-team “Super Series” this season.

The first game on Tuesday is also being treated by the Spanish as a “friendly” with the aim of fielding their strongest XV for the “test” on Saturday, so if Hong Kong were to spring a surprise (and, ultimately, surprise it would indeed be) it is most likely to come in the first game.

Hong Kong Squad –details in our earlier report.

Spain make four changes to the squad for their game against Scotland with Claudia Alonso, Sabina Hurtado, Maria Ribera and Isis Velasco replacing Anna Arnau, Joana Murray, Tania Ortega and Elsa Porto. The rest of the squad is: Nerea Aguirre; Lourdes Alameda; Mónica Castelo; Macarena Del Valle; Lucía Díaz; Amaia Erbina; África Félez; Anne Fernández; Diana Gasso; Aroa González; Saioa Juarena; Isabel Macías; Carlota Meliz; Carmen Pérez; Magdalena Pérez; Anna Ramón; Elena Redondo; Isabel Rico; Selene Roz; María Sobrinos; Jaenina Vinueza; Nuria Yurrita