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Rubgy World Cup bid: Sables now need a bonus point win

Sport
NAMIBIA . . . . . . . (10) 24 ZIMBABWE . . . . . (17) 20 ZIMBABWE’S hopes of qualifying for next year’s Rugby World Cup (RWC) suffered a major blow

NAMIBIA . . . . . . . (10) 24 ZIMBABWE . . . . . (17) 20 ZIMBABWE’S hopes of qualifying for next year’s Rugby World Cup (RWC) suffered a major blow as Namibia maintained their dominance between the two sides with a hard-fought 24-20 win in a nail-biting match in Madagascar yesterday.

SPORTS REPORTER

It was the Namibians’ seventh win on the trot since 2001 over the Sables, who now have a mountain to climb to qualify for their first World Cup since 1991.

The Sables, who were yet again dominated in the forwards department, lost their way late in the second-half when the Namibians scored unanswered tries.

Two converted first-half tries by fullback Tangai Nemadire and a penalty by flyhalf Guy Cronje ensured the Sables went into the break with a slender 17-10 lead over the Namibians, who also replied with a converted try of their own and a penalty.

Another penalty by Cronje early in the second-half gave the Sables more breathing space as they stretched their lead to 10 points.

However, that would be the Sables’ last points of the match as the Namibians seized control of the match thereafter with their heavier pack of forwards engineering two well-worked tries from mauls.

The only consolation for Zimbabwe was that they came out of the encounter with a bonus point for losing within seven points which takes their points tally to six points after beating Madagascar 57-22 in the first match on Saturday.

Namibia, who needed to beat Zimbabwe by a big score to remain in contention for a place at next year’s World Cup, remained below Zimbabwe on five points following their surprise 29-22 defeat to Kenya on Saturday.

Zimbabwe’s defeat came as a boost for Kenya as it left them needing to beat Madagascar to reclaim their place at the top of the four-nation log and they duly obliged, beating the hosts 34-0 in the day’s second match.

Kenya’s win lifted them back to the top of the four-nation log on 10 points while Madagascar remained bottom without a single point.

The Brendan Dawson-coached Sables will now need a bonus point win against Kenya in their last round-robin match at the same venue on Sunday to stand any chance of qualifying for the World Cup.

The team which finishes top of the log on Sunday will automatically qualify for next year’s Rugby World Cup while the second-placed team will have another shot at qualification via a play-off against Russia in August.

A 34-0 win over hosts Madagascar kept Kenya’s RWC 2015 qualification hopes alive heading into Sunday’s final fixture at the Confederation of African Rugby Cup Division 1A Championships in Antananaravivo, Madagascar yesterday.

This was Kenya’s first win over Madagascar in four attempts. The Simbas went 12-0 up courtesy of tries from Ronnie Mwenesi and Joshua Chisanga, Kenny Andola converting Chisanga’s effort.

Mwenesi and Humphrey Kayange would land further unconverted efforts that saw Jerome Paarwater’s side lead 22-0 before Mwenesi completed his hat-trick with another unconverted try that saw them take a 27-0 lead over the hosts at the break.

The second-half was slower paced,Kenya seemingly disengaging gear one, allowing the Makis to see more of the ball. Their attacking attempts were, however, thwarted by solid Kenyan defending.

Winger Dennis Muhanji would visit the sin bin, this after being reprimanded for retaliatory action against his Madagascar opponent Claudio Ravelomananjara who also earned the same disciplinary action from Englishman Luke Pearce who officiated this match. Kenya would score their sixth try of the game, Chisanga landing his brace from a rolling maul with Lyle Asiligwa converting for the full time score.

Zimbabwe Starting XV: 1. Denford Mutamangira, 2. Mathew Mandioma, 3. Kevin Nqindi, 4. Jan Ferreira, 5. Sanele Sibanda, 6. Njabulo Ndlovu, 7. Jacques Leitao, 8. Lambert Groenewald, 9. Hilton Mudariki, 10. Guy Cronje, 11. Stephan Hunduza, 12. Riaan O’Neill, 13. Daniel Hondo (c), 14. Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, 15. T. Nemadire Replacements: 16. Keith Murray, 17. Pieter Joubert, 18. Lawrence Clemenson, 19. Graeme Lawler, 20. Kingsley Lang, 21. Peter Du Toit, 22. Lenience Tambwera, 23. Gerald Sibanda

Namibia Starting XV: 1. Johannes Redelinghuys, 2. Rathony Becker, 3. André Schlechter, 4. Munee Tjiueza Uatjiueza, 5. Morné Blom, 6. Rohan Kitshoff, 7. Renaldo Bothma, 8. Pieter-Jan van Lill (c), 9. Arthur Bouwer, 10. Theuns Kotze, 11. Heinrich Smit, 12. Johan Deysel, 13. Darryl De La Harpe, 14. David Philander, 15. Chrysander Botha

Replacements: 16. Dian Wiese, 17. Jaco Engels, 18. Shaun Du Preez, 19. Awie Thompson, 20. Tinus Du Plessis, 21. Eneill Buitendag, 22. Justin Nel, 23. Johannes Tromp