Welwitschias trashes Madagascar

Rudi Bowe

The Namibian Welwitschias trounced Madagascar 52-10 in their Rugby Africa Cup match at the Alassane Ouattara High School Stadium in Grand Bassam in Abidjan Côte d’Ivoire on Wednesday to remain in the hunt for a place in the final round of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Adriaan Booysen, Riaan Van Zyl and Johan Tromp each scored a try and Helarius Kisting successful with two conversions and two penalties to give the Welwitschias a 25-0 halftime lead. In the second half, two tries by Obert Nortjie and one each by Helarius Kisting and Gerhard Thirion a conversions and penalty by Helarius Kisting and a conversion by Ricardo Swartz was enough for a 52-10 victory for the Welwischias.
After Wednesdays result, there is no probable permutation with which the game between Madagascar and Ivory Coast on Sunday 11 July can prevent Namibia from progressing. Ivory Coast stands at four points after its 24-13 shock victory last weekend with which it kept Namibia scoreless Namibia are on 5 points and Madagascar on zero points.
The five league points (four for winning, bonus point for at least four tries) and the fact that Madagascar could not score a league point Namibia can secure a place in the final round of Rugby Africa qualifying tournament for the 2023 World Cup.
The winner and runners-up of the four groups in round two of the Rugby Africa cup will advance top eight tournament which is a straight knockout competition with the winner advance to the 2023 World Cup finals. The runner-up will still have a change to advance to the final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup through a qualification tournament with the runner-ups from other continents.
The 2022 Rugby Africa Cup which doubles as Qualifier for the which doubles as Qualifying for the 2023 Rugby World Cup for Africa will be played next year and will begin with 4 quarter finals, followed by semi-finals and culminating in a final. The date and venue for the final round will still to be announced by Rugby Africa.