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Easy winners of Kenya (36-0) in the final, the Namibians held their rank and won the Rugby Africa Cup yesterday, Sunday July 10, in Aix-en-Provence. They will play the World Cup in France next year.
from our special correspondent,
Land of the Brave, “Land of the Brave” suggests Namibia’s anthem. After the demonstration of the players from southern Africa against Kenya, it is difficult to contradict the words of composer Axali Doëseb. The Namibians crushed their opponents, overwhelmed, from the start of the match to lead 15-0 at the break thanks to two tries from third row Wian Conradie.
Impressive physically, Allister Coetzee’s men left only crumbs for the Kenyans who suffered again after the break and saw Namibia go away on the scoreboard. A few stacked penalties and two new tries, again signed Conradie (author of a hat-trick) and Johan Deysel, the ¾ center and captain, at the very end of the game and the score stopped at 36-0. Implacable and logical as Namibia was the favorite of this final and the tournament. ” We are obviously satisfied because it is never easy to assume one’s status “, estimated Coetzee, in office since last year, at the end of the match. ” Mission accomplished ! »
Kenyans too limited
Kenyan captain Daniel Sikuta could only see the damage after the match, regretting his team’s lack of accuracy: ” With each error on our part, Namibia took the opportunity to score, and we did a lot of them. She managed to capitalize on that. Their team was superior to ours, there is nothing to say. For us, it is very difficult to accept collectively. » An acknowledgment of failure for the imposing flanker but his team did not regain the explosiveness that allowed them to dismiss Uganda (42-7) then Algeria (36-33) to qualify for the final.
Conversely, Namibia will have dominated this Rugby Africa Cup head and shoulders. Winners of Burkina Faso (71-5) then slightly jostled by Zimbabwe (34-19), those who are nicknamed the Welwitschias (plants that grow in the Namibian desert) did not miss their appointment and will play their seventh consecutive World Cup.
Namibia with France and the All Blacks
Apart from the untouchable South African world champions, they therefore confirm their hold on continental rugby. ” We did what was expected of us. Now we can look to this 2023 World Cup, an exciting prospect “says Coetzee. For the former boss of the Springboks (2016-2018), ” it will be an honor to face New Zealand and France, which is the best in the world today”. Also on the program for Namibia, Italy and Uruguay with the ambition “to win at least one match hopes captain Johan Deysel.
For Kenya, badly beaten, nothing is lost but the task will still be difficult to return to France next year. The Simbas will play a repechage tournament in November with three other countries: Portugal, the winner of the play-off between Tonga and Hong Kong (scheduled for July 23) and another team from the American continent.
Algeria snatches 3rd place
The “XV aux Deux Lions” concluded its tournament with another 20 to 12 victory against Zimbabwe, allowing it to finish 3rd. What mitigate – a little – the defeat in the semi-final against Kenya on Wednesday. The Algerian national team, which did not exist before 2015, confirms its progress and is now aiming for the 2027 World Cup. For its part, Uganda took 5th place after a victory in extremis against Côte d’Ivoire by Edgar Babou (18-17). Finally, Senegal finished 7th in the Rugby Africa Cup thanks to its success over Burkina Faso 44 to 30.