Namibia has qualified for Rugby World Cup 2007 in France after recording a 27-8 victory over Morocco in Casablanca on Saturday. The win follows Namibia’s 25-7 first leg triumph over Morocco in Windhoek, securing a 52-15 aggregate victory and a place at next year’s finals.
Namibia’s qualification means that all but four of the 20 teams for Rugby World Cup 2007 have been filled. Namibia qualifies as Africa 1 and joins the automatic qualifiers from RWC 2003 in Australia – quarter-finalists England, Australia, New Zealand, France, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa and Wales – and Samoa (Oceania 1), Fiji (Oceania 2), Argentina (Americas 1), Canada (Americas 2), USA (Americas 3), Italy (Europe 1) and Romania (Europe 2) in France.
Namibia will play in Pool D in France alongside hosts France, Ireland, Argentina and a yet to be decided Europe qualifier and will kick-off its finals campaign against Ireland in Bordeaux on September 9.
Defending an 18 point advantage Johan Venter’s Namibia side was always in the driving seat in a fiery encounter in front of 2500 partisan supporters at an atmosphere charged Stade du COC. However, the match could have taken on a different complexion had Morocco not been reduced to 14 men after the sending off of captain Jalil Narjissi after 39 minutes following a dangerous tackle on Jaques Burger when the scores were locked at 3-3.
Morocco, facing the task of overhauling a sizeable deficit, started positively taking the game to the Namibians in the early exchanges and establishing a deserved 3-0 lead. However, despite a significant advantage in the set pieces, the home side was unable to add to the lead and allowed Namibia to claw its way back into the game.
Fly half Emile Wessels leveled the scores for the visitors with a long-range penalty after 25 minutes before the Namibian pack, making the most of the numerical advantage after Narjissi’s sending-off, drove flanker Herman Lindvert over the line for the opening score of the match on the stroke of half time.
After the interval it was all one way traffic as Namibia scored tries through full back Heini Bock and a brace by the highly-impressive Melrick Africa to open up a comfortable 27-3 advantage before Morocco scored a consolation try through replacement hooker Abdelkafi Abachri.
“I am delighted that we have achieved our goal of qualifying for Rugby World Cup 2007,” said Namibia Captain Kees Lensing. “Knowing that Morocco would throw everything at us we could not afford to defend our advantage. Therefore, I am really pleased that we played some positive Rugby and scored four tries in the process.” “Our attention can now turn to Rugby World Cup 2007 preparations and ensuring that we go to France in good shape. We have a well balanced side containing both youth and experience and I am proud of everyone involved in the team today,” added Lensing.
Morocco must now play the loser of the Portugal versus Georgia Europe Round 6 tie for a chance to take on Uruguay for the first repechage qualifying place.
Source : www.irb.com