Manu Sāmoa celebrate World Cup spot but draw with Belgium shows work still to do

Manu Sāmoa have clinched the final place at the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup, but a gritty 13-13 draw with Belgium in their last match of the Final Qualification Tournament on Wednesday (NZ time) underlines they still have gaps to fill.

After wins over Brazil and Namibia, Sāmoa knew a draw against Belgium would be enough to seal qualification. The score stayed level at 13-all through a tense finish, giving the Pacific Islanders the ticket to Australia 2027 as the 24th and final team in the expanded tournament.

“It wasn’t all pretty, but we managed to get the ticket to the World Cup,” Manu Sāmoa captain Theo McFarland told a post-match interview.

Sāmoa will make their 10th appearance at a Rugby World Cup in 2027, having participated in every tournament since 1991.

With the draw for the 2027 pools set for 3 December in Sydney, Sāmoa now await the news of who they will face in their group stage.

But while there is plenty to celebrate, rugby experts say Wednesday's match shows Sāmoa cannot rest easy.

Watch Theo McFarland's interview following their match against Belgium in Dubai below.

Signs of concern

In their showdown with Belgium, Sāmoa failed to finish some promising attacks. The team made costly handling errors in the Belgium 22-metre zone, including forward passes and knock-ons, even one knock-on over the try line in the first half.

Belgium, meanwhile, defended fiercely. In the 63rd minute, Abraham Papali’i came off the bench to crash over for a try, converted by Jacob Umaga, giving the Sāmoans a 13-6 lead.

But Belgium fought back: their captain, Jean-Maurice Decubber, crossed over for a score, and with a successful conversion from Matias Remue, they tied the game.

Manu Sāmoa head coach Tusi Pisi admits there are still areas to improve. Earlier in the week, he pointed to turnover problems in their match against Namibia, saying Sāmoa had 21 turnovers while winning only two.

“There are a few things to be happy about, and there are also a few things to work on and learn from … We took those learnings … and we’ll try and correct it for this game," he told reporters ahead of the Belgium clash.

A Manu Sāmoa runner charges forward against Belgium during the tense 13–13 draw. Photo/Facebook/Manu Sāmoa

Looking ahead

Rugby analysts believe this draw is a warning. For all their experience and talent, Manu Sāmoa’s discipline under pressure remains a concern.

One commentator says the fact that Belgium, a side that has never qualified for a World Cup, could push Sāmoa so hard raises questions about how the Manu will fare on the bigger stage in Australia.

“Samoa are proud to be back in the World Cup, but this result should serve as a wake-up call. They must tighten up their execution and decision-making under fatigue if they are to be competitive in 2027.”

But Sāmoa's path to qualification, bouncing back from earlier setbacks, has shown resilience. They’ll also benefit from the World Rugby Nations Cup in 2026, which promises more consistent, high-level matches as preparation for the World Cup in Australia.