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John-Wessel Bell: 'We can give a lot to the world, we can shock teams'
Twenty-eight tries were scored at Stade Jean Bouin on Sunday across the four Rugby Europe Championship finals but one of the most skilful was the supreme 11-second solo effort of John-Wessel Bell, the Spain full-back.
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The thrilling 11-try bronze medal clash with Romania hadn’t started well for the Spanish as they quickly fell 12 points behind. However, one of the major first-half momentum swingers was what Bell produced in the 30th minute of the playoff.
He was about a yard outside his own team’s 22 when he gathered a clearance kick from the Romanians after one bounce. About nine steps later, on approaching the 10-metre line, he lofted skyward a kick of his own just as the first would-be tackler looked to intervene.
A stumble followed but he managed to stay upright and gallop after his punt, jumping in the air to battle with Tevita Manumua about five yards the other side of the halfway line.
The Romanian looked better placed to gather but the South African brilliantly leaped like a springbok to fetch the ball without losing any of his momentum.
??v?? | We've had a few unreal tries of #REC24, this one by John-Wessel Bell is right up there !
What a crazy start we've had here in Paris. pic.twitter.com/R1Vr3iQMjE
— Rugby Europe (@rugby_europe) March 17, 2024
His speed on landing then took him around the outside of Hinckley Vaovasa on the 10-metre line and with the ball tucked securely under his right arm, he raced away to score in the corner the converted try that put Spain in front and on their way to a 40-33 win that was more comfortable than it sounded as the Romanians struck with two very late tries.
It was a brilliant execution from the 34-year-old South African, who debuted for Spain in the 2019/20 season following his three-year residency qualification.
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“I love to catch high balls. That’s all I want to do, I want to run with the ball. We didn’t get that many opportunities but I am very happy with my effort there and it came out with a try, so very happy with that,” he told RugbyPass in the dressing room corridor after the victory.
It’s been a difficult redemption road for Spain. Two years ago, they had qualified for Rugby World Cup 2023 with a 33-28 win over Portugal, securing a spot in Pool B with matches versus Scotland, Ireland and South Africa. It wasn’t to be, however.
Six weeks later, on foot of a successful objection from Romania about the right of South Africa-born Gavin van den Berg to pull on the red jersey on residency grounds, Los Leones were painfully hit by a hefty points deduction.
That gave the Romanians the automatic qualification spot and bumped Portugal up into the qualifier repechage that they won before ultimately going on to beat Fiji and draw with Georgia at France 2023.
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Disqualification deeply hurt but Spain are back up and running, coming within a whisker of beating Os Lobos in a Rugby Europe semi-final at the start of March before earning bronze with a deserved success versus Romania.
These efforts have inflamed optimism that Rugby World Cup 2027 qualification is a genuine target with that tournament set to expand from 20 to 24 teams in Australia.
Joy for Spain. They have beaten Romania 40-33 in the Rugby Europe third place final. #REC24 #rugby pic.twitter.com/8sp9bd23oi
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 17, 2024
“We are very happy with the win. We came here with a goal to beat Romania. We knew if we beat them we are going to have a better pool to qualify for the World Cup in 2027. We came with an objective and we accomplished that. Very happy,” enthused Bell.
“I would love to play World Cup. I personally was so sad when we got disqualified from the previous World Cup because that was a time when I felt like I had a great opportunity to play World Cup.
“To stay another three and a half years, four years, it will take a lot out of us, a lot out of me, but I would really like to do that.
“I would be honoured to play World Cup if Spain qualifies. Portugal had a very good World Cup, but I still believe we are better and we can give a lot to the world if we play at that stage – we can shock a lot of teams as well.
“The last two games we changed a few things and we’re quite happy with it. Pablo Bouza, the new coach, is pushing us in a different direction and we are learning and adapting with the team and it will be good for the future.”
What was obvious from speaking with Bell, who still had his Rugby Europe bronze medal around his neck, was how proud he is to have made a success of himself in Spain where he emigrated to after a couple of Super Rugby appearances with the Lions in 2016 was the height of his progress in his native South Africa.
“I played for the Pumas (Currie Cup) and the Lions in Super Rugby and I was at a point in my life that I felt like I needed to change a few things, wanted to see a few different countries. I decided to come to Spain and it worked out quite well for me.
“I stayed for two years and then the international team talked to me and said, ‘Stay another year and then you can play for the international team’. That’s what I did and my family and I are very happy. We have a great life in Spain and I am very honoured to play for Spain. I enjoy it a lot.”
Plenty of fans delighted to see Spain win their Rugby Europe play-off match versus Romania to take third place in 2024. #REC24 #rugby pic.twitter.com/b5m68fT37u
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 17, 2024
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
2 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
2 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments