Arch-rivals book another epic final in Kampala
Rugby
Algeria and Kenya both gave their all in the semi-finals, but to no avail.
As expected, Zimbabwe and Namibia have booked their spots in the final of the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup / 2027 Rugby World Cup qualifier in Kampala, Uganda, next Saturday.
It will be all to play for between the neighbouring arch-rivals in Kampala next Saturday, with the champion advancing to Australia 2027, while the African runner-up will need to stay in Kampala another week and will need to beat United Arab Emirates in a playoff to keep its qualifying hopes alive.
Head coach Jacques Burger’s team still committed a high number of unforced errors in yesterday’s tense semi-final against a gutsy but limited Algeria, which Namibia won 21-7 after leading 15-7 at halftime.
Namibia’s big-match temperament nevertheless carried them through as they defended their lead – despite Algeria going ahead 5-3 with a 17th minute try when their lock was given space and momentum for a run at the goal-line.
Cliven Loubser (fullback) scored first with a penalty after 13 minutes, before captain and flank Prince !Gaoseb forced his way over from a driving maul after 23 minutes, which Loubser could not convert.
Although not consistently sharp and clinical in their attacking yet, the second try that Namibia created after 27 minutes provided a glimpse of what this squad could be capable of if given more time together.
Centre Le Roux Malan (later named player of the match) jumped to win back a high kick by fly-half André van der Berg and skilfully off-loaded to lock Johan Retief, who despite being tackled sent away Loubser on a clear run for the try, which he converted himself (15-7).
Even when somewhat risky play went wrong on occasion, the Namibians scrambled well enough with aggressive defence to maintain, or transfer the pressure onto the Algerians and force them into errors.
After 35 minutes, lock Oliver Kurz looked almost certain to have scored his first test try after wing Danie van der Merwe’s kick-chase applied the pressure in Algeria’s 22 area, but was called back for an earlier knock-on on the goal-line by centre Danco Burger.
Shortly afterwards, Burger ran back to make a telling try-saving tackle after an Algerian interception, as the Namibians stayed in the lead by eight points at halftime.
At 44 minutes, Algeria scrambled well to keep wing Jurgen Meyer from grounding the ball for a try after good build-up by Malan, Aranos Coetzee and Kurz, among others. The referee went back for a penalty to Namibia, which Loubser landed (18-7).
Malan’s left-footed touch-finder from deep in his own half handed Namibia the feed into an attacking lineout in Algeria’s 22, where they stayed until Loubser converted his third and final penalty of the match.
This time, Namibia’s bench did not make a similar second-half impact as against Senegal last week, which could present some interesting selection posers for the crucial final match on Saturday.
Zimbabwe 29-23 Kenya
High-flying Zimbabwe almost looked like coming unstuck at times, but survived an epic semi-final in which Kenya took the lead with an intercept try just before halftime (13-18).
The Sables’ foreign-based professionals including fly-half Ian Prior made decisive contributions to the reigning Rugby Africa champions winning this crucial clash. Prior uncharacteristically missed his first two conversion attempts, but his 14 points from a dropped goal, three penalties and one conversion made the difference.
Zimbabwe’s try scorers were outside centre Brandon Mudzekenyedzi (13 minutes) off a quick play to the blind side of a maul; scrumhalf and captain Hilton Mudariki (21 minutes) after good build-up by his forwards, and substitute loose-forward Ryan Burnett (62 minutes) off a pick-and-go from close range.
The Kenyans applied lots of pressure through their rush defence, but in the second half went from 18-13 ahead to 18-29 behind. Following their late try from a Zimbabwean lineout overthrow with 80 minutes expired, the Kenyans unsuccessfully tried to persuade the referee to still allow the kick-off if they forfeit the conversion attempt.
It will be all to play for between the neighbouring arch-rivals in Kampala next Saturday, with the champion advancing to Australia 2027, while the African runner-up will need to stay in Kampala another week and will need to beat United Arab Emirates in a playoff to keep its qualifying hopes alive.
Head coach Jacques Burger’s team still committed a high number of unforced errors in yesterday’s tense semi-final against a gutsy but limited Algeria, which Namibia won 21-7 after leading 15-7 at halftime.
Namibia’s big-match temperament nevertheless carried them through as they defended their lead – despite Algeria going ahead 5-3 with a 17th minute try when their lock was given space and momentum for a run at the goal-line.
Cliven Loubser (fullback) scored first with a penalty after 13 minutes, before captain and flank Prince !Gaoseb forced his way over from a driving maul after 23 minutes, which Loubser could not convert.
Although not consistently sharp and clinical in their attacking yet, the second try that Namibia created after 27 minutes provided a glimpse of what this squad could be capable of if given more time together.
Centre Le Roux Malan (later named player of the match) jumped to win back a high kick by fly-half André van der Berg and skilfully off-loaded to lock Johan Retief, who despite being tackled sent away Loubser on a clear run for the try, which he converted himself (15-7).
Even when somewhat risky play went wrong on occasion, the Namibians scrambled well enough with aggressive defence to maintain, or transfer the pressure onto the Algerians and force them into errors.
After 35 minutes, lock Oliver Kurz looked almost certain to have scored his first test try after wing Danie van der Merwe’s kick-chase applied the pressure in Algeria’s 22 area, but was called back for an earlier knock-on on the goal-line by centre Danco Burger.
Shortly afterwards, Burger ran back to make a telling try-saving tackle after an Algerian interception, as the Namibians stayed in the lead by eight points at halftime.
At 44 minutes, Algeria scrambled well to keep wing Jurgen Meyer from grounding the ball for a try after good build-up by Malan, Aranos Coetzee and Kurz, among others. The referee went back for a penalty to Namibia, which Loubser landed (18-7).
Malan’s left-footed touch-finder from deep in his own half handed Namibia the feed into an attacking lineout in Algeria’s 22, where they stayed until Loubser converted his third and final penalty of the match.
This time, Namibia’s bench did not make a similar second-half impact as against Senegal last week, which could present some interesting selection posers for the crucial final match on Saturday.
Zimbabwe 29-23 Kenya
High-flying Zimbabwe almost looked like coming unstuck at times, but survived an epic semi-final in which Kenya took the lead with an intercept try just before halftime (13-18).
The Sables’ foreign-based professionals including fly-half Ian Prior made decisive contributions to the reigning Rugby Africa champions winning this crucial clash. Prior uncharacteristically missed his first two conversion attempts, but his 14 points from a dropped goal, three penalties and one conversion made the difference.
Zimbabwe’s try scorers were outside centre Brandon Mudzekenyedzi (13 minutes) off a quick play to the blind side of a maul; scrumhalf and captain Hilton Mudariki (21 minutes) after good build-up by his forwards, and substitute loose-forward Ryan Burnett (62 minutes) off a pick-and-go from close range.
The Kenyans applied lots of pressure through their rush defence, but in the second half went from 18-13 ahead to 18-29 behind. Following their late try from a Zimbabwean lineout overthrow with 80 minutes expired, the Kenyans unsuccessfully tried to persuade the referee to still allow the kick-off if they forfeit the conversion attempt.
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