Rugby World Cup

The Namib is a desert and it was tough for the Namibians in sopping wet Abidjan when they played and eventually drew 13-all with Côte d’Ivoire in a qualifier for the 2011 World Cup.

Die Republikein, the Windhoek newspaper, reports that the rain was not the biggest surprise for the Namibians but the poor organisation of the Federation Ivorienne de Rugby was. The match, for example, was to have kicked off at 16.00 on Saturday but when the Biltongboere arrived on Friday they were told that it had been postponed, because the stadium was being used to collect money for the families of 19 people who had died during a soccer match in March. The visitors were offered the option of playing the match but on a poor playing surface.

The rugby match was rescheduled to Sunday.

It was an even match - 6-all at half-time and 13-all at the end.

Chrisander Botha kicked two penalties to give Namibia a 6-0 lead but then centre Jean-Maurice Oulouma levelled the scores with two penalties for the home side.

In the second half Cheetahs centre Piet van Zyl scored a try which Botha converted. Back came the Ivoriennes and Bakari Meite scored a try which Oulouma converted to tie the match.

The two teams meet again on 27 June 2009 in Windhoek. The winner of that match will go through to the final of the Africa Cup, probably against Tunisia who beat Uganda 41-17 on Saturday.

Scorers:

For Côte d’Ivoire:
Try: Melte
Con: Oulouma
Pens: Oulouma 2

For Namibia:
Try: Van Zyl
Con: Botha
Pens: Botha 2

Teams

Côte d'Ivoire: 15 Louis Kouadio, 14 Bedel Dogoui, 13 Jean-Maurice Oulouma, 12 Laurent Diomande, 11 Landry Tian, 10 Silvere Tian, 9 Mohamed Dembele, 8 Bakari Meite, 7 Serge Jouve, 6 Daouada Kone, 5 Franck Acho, 4 Issa Meite, 3 Edgar Babou (captain), 2 Olivier Diomande, 1 Marc Youboue,
Replacements: 16 Ibrahima Konate, 17 Pacome Yavo Guy, 18 Kinafo Palo Diabata, 19 Gaoyssou Dao, 20 Diack Gassama, 21 Arthur Tian, 22 Sydney Djiropo

Namibia: 15 Chrisander Botha, 14 Mc Grath van Wyk, 13 Piet van Zyl, 12 David Philander, 11 Llewelyn Winckler, 10 Godwin Walters, 9 Jurie van Tonder, 8 Tinus du Plessis, 7 Jacques Burger, 6 Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 5 Waca Kazombiaze, 4 Nico Esterhuizen, 3 Marius Visser, 2Hugo Horn, 1 Kees Lensing (captain)
Replacements: 16 Shaun Esterhuisen, 17 Johnny Redelinghuis, 18 André de Klerk, 19 Pieter Jan van Nill, 20 Eugene Jantjies, 21 Jackie Bock, 22 Tinus Venter

Referee: Patrick Pechambert (France)
Assistant referees: Stéphane Duberger (France), S Munery (France)