Namibia beat Zimbabwe in Windhoek
Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:36
The Biltongboere beat the Sables 35-21 in Windhoek on Saturday in an Africa Cup match which doubled as a World Cup qualifier for 2011.
This means that Namibia go through to the next round along with Côte d’Ivoire, Tunisia and Uganda. Those are the four teams which won on Saturday.
At half-time at the Hage Geingob Stadium, Namibia led 28-0 and seemed to be cruising to a big victory but the Sables fought back and scored three tries in the second half.
Initially it was the Biltongboere's pack which crushed the Sables - scrumming and driving with power.
Wing Llewellyn Winckler was close to opening the score but Zimbabwean centre Wesley Mbanje felled him in the nick of time. This gave Namibia a five-metre scrum from which the referee awarded them a penalty try. Chrysander Botha converted. 7-0 after 18 ,minutes.
The Namibians again applied pressure and their loose trio, Jacques Burger, who had played for the Blue Bulls in Brakpan the night before, Jacques Nieuwenhuis and Tinus du Plessis, enjoyed the fruits of their tight five's labours.
Matie flyhalf Jaco van Zyl grubbered, chased, gathered and scored. Botha again converted. 14-0.
Back came Namibia and flank Du Plessis went over from a maul. 21-0.
Three minutes before half-time fullback Botha came into the line and broke on a long run before giving to centre Tinus Venter on his inside. Venter crashed over in the corner. Van Zyl converted. 28-0.
After Du Plessis came close to scoring a second try, the Sables countered and centre Paul Stark, a great crash-ball player, cut through and scored, converting himself, 28-7.
Now it was the Sables' turn to put on the pressure and from a maul Costa Dinha scored. Stark again converted. 28-14.
Back came the Sables and only a great tackle five metres from the line by Burger stopped wing Gerald Sibanda from scoring a try.
Zimbabwe carried on attacking till they dropped the ball and Venter footed free, ran 50 metres and gave to hooker Shaun Esterhuizen who scored in the right corner. Botha converted. 35-14.
The final siren went with Namibia on the attack but Manasa Sita intercepted and raced 60 metres to score for Zimbabwe. Stark converted. 35-21.
Not one penalty goal was scored in the match.
Scorers:
For Namibia:
Tries: penalty try, Van Zyl, Venter, Esterhuizen
Cons: Botha 4, Van Zyl
For Zimbabwe:
Tries: Stark, Dinha, Sita
Cons: Stark 3
Teams:
Namibia: 15 Chryzander Botha, 14 Luwayne Kotzee, 13 Du Preez Grobler, 12 Tinus Venter, 11 Llewellyn Winkler, 10 Jaco van Zyl, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 8 Jacques Burger, 7 Tinus du Plessis, 6 Jacques Nieuwenhuis (captain), 5 Nico Esterhuyse, 4 Wacca Kazombiaze, 3 Jané du Toit, 2 Hugo Horn, 1 Johnny
Redelinghuys
Replacements: 16 Shaun Esterhuize, 17 Carlo Campbell, 18 PJ van Lill, 19 Gawan Esterhuisen, 20 Jurie van Tonder, 21 Godwin Walters, 22 Bradley Langenhoven
Zimbabwe: 15. Cleopas Makatose (captain), 14. Gerald Sibanda, 13. Wes Mbanje, 12. Pete Stark, 11. Alex Ndangana, 10. Danny Robertson, 9. Donald Magenje, 8. Norman Mukondiwa, 7. Jacques Leitao, 6. Fortune Chipendu, 5. Arthur Mate, 4. Dustin Wilcox, 3. Rockface Guramani, 2. Raymond Dzvairo, 1. Pete Joubert
Replacements: 16. Devon Esbach, 17. Gardiner Nechironga, 18. Prayer Chitenderu, 19. Costa Dinha, 20. Thlou Kitumetsi, 21. Denford Mutangadura, 22. Manasa Sita
Referee: Pro Legoete (South Africa)
Touch judges: Jerome America (South Africa), Roderick Barry (South Africa)
Match commissioner: Neville Heilbron (South Africa)
