Down to the wire in Africa Rugby World Cup Qualifying
Abidjan, 24 September: It will be down to the wire for the last teams remaining in the race
to grab the one positionfor AFRICA in Rugby World Cyp qualifying.
This weekend Tunisia crushed Kenya’s hopes of reaching France 2007 with a 31-12 win
in Tunis . This was Kenya’s final match in Pool A, victory would have seen them
qualify for the play-off against the Pool Bwinners which is also still to be decided.
Tunis have now won two matches, both at home, they wil travel to Windhoek in 10 days time
for the pool decider against Namibia. Namibia with one win has a positive points difference of 55
but the match in Windhoek will not be about points for or against, it is quite simple.
Namibia must win the match to qualify even if it is by one point.
A draw will see Tunisia through.
Abidjan in the troubled Ivory Coast hosted the return match between Uganda and
1995 Rugby World Cup Finalists, Les Elephants from the Ivory Coast. The Ivory Coast
is split in two, the rebel held south and the government controlled North, recently a toxic
waste spill killed 10 people in Abidjan. In the same week though as peace talks again failed,
Uganda, in the true spirit of rugby travelled to West Africa to fulfil the fixture.
The match was played at STADE CHAMPROUX in Abidjan, watched by about
1200 spectators. Uganda started off very well, running the ball at every
opportunity but let down by poor handling they failed to score. Poor goal
kicking which cost Uganda the match against Morocco in Kampala, again reared
it’s ugly head. In this match the CRANES missed no fewer than 5 shots at
goal which could have made a huge difference.
The Ugandans were also suspect under the high ball, the Ivory Coast
exploited this which resulted in the first try of the match after Uganda’s
fullback Wakasi spilled the ball, his centre John Musoke also failed to
control the ball allowing the Ivory Coast’s Djakarigja Sombie to go over for
the opening try of the match. . Konan Louis Kouadio converted for a seven
nil lead. A penalty by Kouadio on twenty minutes extend the Ivory Coast’s
advantage to ten – nil.
Uganda in particular were very dangerous from the set phases and when in the
28 th minute they spread the ball wide, their pace was just to much for the
Ivory Coast defence to handle, African Leopards player John Musoke made the
initial break and then timed his pass to perfection to send fullback Simon
Wakasi away for what turned out to be Uganda’s only try of the match. At ten
seven Uganda were back in the match but just before the break the Ivory
Coast’s Tidiane Kamara slotted a dropgoal for a 13-seven advantage at
half-time.
The second half was punctuated by a lost of mistakes but credit to both
teams as they tried to spread the ball wide at every opportunity. The Ivory
Coast were on the attack for the biggest part of this half and halfway
through the second period they secured the victory when wing Paulin Yao
slipped through a clever grubber kick, he followed it up to score the match
winning try.
The final score 18-seven a huge disappointment to the Cranes, for the
Elephants there’s still a faint hope of reaching the next stage providing
the beat Morocco in ten days time in Casablanca.