African RWC qualifying reaching its crescendo

 

Roar Guru

By Working Class Rugger, 4 Jul 2009 Working Class Rugger is a Roar Guru

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 2011 RWC, African Cup Rugby Championship, International Rugby, Rugby Union

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And then there were two. Namibia and Tunisia have emerged as the leading African rugby nations in the current African Cup Rugby Championship, which is also doubling as a 2011 RWC Qualifier series.

Both Nations reached the final leg of African Cup last weekend, defeating Cote d’Ivore (Ivory Coast) and Uganda respectively over a home and away semi-final series.

Namibia:
The Africa 1 slot winner for the past three RWC’s had a surprisingly difficult encounter against a resilient Ivory Coast away in the Ivorian Capital with a surprising 13-all draw in the first leg, only to comfortably account for the same side a week later in Windhoek 54–14. Although it should be mentioned that the Ivory Coast were issued with two Red Cards and three Yellows.

Tunisia:
We have seen the Tunisian 7′s team pop up on the IRB 7’s circuit from time to time over the past few years, most recently at the 7’s World Cup in Dubai in March. Through these visits, observers have seen the possibilities that exist within Tunisian Rugby. And in this year’s Africa Cup, they have seemingly transplanted much of their progress in the 7’s form of the game into the 15 man version. In their first leg against Uganda in Kampala, the impressive Tunisians accounted for the home side 17–41, much to the large and vocal home crowd’s disgust, and backed it up last weekend with a convincing 38–13 win in Tunis.

Namibia and Tunisia will now fight it out for the Africa Cup and their ultimate goal of RWC 2011 Qualification.

If Namibia emerge victorious, it will be their fourth straight appearance. Conversely, if Tunisia emerge, then they will book their first trip to the games’ biggest stage.

Showing my bias, I wish the Tunisian team all the best. Namibia has been there before. It’s about time another emerging African Nations has a run.

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