By Fernando Kallas
MADRID (Reuters) -Spain hung on to beat Portugal 33-28 in Madrid on Sunday and seal a place at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, only the second time they have qualified for the global showpiece tournament.
The Spanish, who took part in the 1999 World Cup, will be in Group B alongside holders South Africa, Scotland, Ireland and a team from the Asia/Pacific region.
Roared on by more than 6,000 fans at the Complutense University on a sunny morning in the Spanish capital, hooker Marco Pinto led the way for Spain with two first-half tries.
Portugal threw everything at the Spaniards in the closing stages of the match but the hosts held firm and when their long overdue return to the World Cup was confirmed, the supporters invaded the pitch to celebrate with the players.
“It’s impossible to describe the emotions going through my veins right now, my thoughts are with those who could not be here in this magical day, this one I dedicate to our brother Kawa Leauma who died wanting to play with us,” Pinto told Reuters, remembering lock Leauma, who died aged 32 from head injuries sustained in a fall in the Netherlands in December.
Spain climbed to 29 points in the qualification group with six wins and three losses, behind Georgia who have secured their place in France with eight wins and one draw after defeating Romania 26-23 in Bucharest on Saturday.
Spain will play Georgia in their final match of the campaign on March 20.
Portugal are third in standing with 25 points but Romania have 23 points and a game in hand against the Netherlands next weekend. The team finishing third will go into the final qualification tournament in November.
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas, editing by Ed Osmond)
