• Rugby

Strong bench crushes Senegal resistance

• 6 Hours Ago

Favourites Namibia, Algeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe progressed to the semi-finals of the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup – the all-important qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup – by winning their opening matches in Uganda’s capital Kampala yesterday.

Head coach Jacques Burger’s Namibian team overcame a frustratingly slow and error-ridden start against Senegal, before eventually storming to a 55-17 win (halftime 17-7).

Still, they will be fully aware that they cannot afford to under-estimate any opponent at the continental qualifiers, in their quest for an eighth consecutive appearance at the world event.

For this Sunday, Namibia has booked its spot in the semi-final against Algeria, while Kenya will be up against the reigning Rugby Africa title holder Zimbabwe. The winner of the continental championship on 18 July will advance to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

The African runner-up will need to stay in Kampala for a week longer, to face the United Arab Emirates (Asian regional runner-up) in an eliminator before the Final Qualification tournament where Belgium and three other continental play-off winners will meet.



Early struggles

With some of starting hooker Louis van der Westhuizen’s early lineout throws ruled not straight, and various other errors, the Namibians were unable to establish early scoreboard pressure on Senegal.

However, to be fair, each of yesterday’s four matches delivered most of its free-flowing points-scoring in the second halves.

The only Namibian debutant, lock Oliver Kurz, was unlucky to be yellow-carded after 47 minutes for the appearance of a scuffle with some opposing forwards following a Senegal driving maul. After servind his ten minutes, Kurz was immediately replaced by Adriaan Ludick, who ended up as one of the try-scorers.

André van der Berg was named as player of the match. Despite starting in the unfamiliar 13 jersey, he exerted his usual play-making influence before slotting in at flyhalf when Tiaan Swanepoel was replaced.

Namibia’s first try-scorer after 7 minutes was lock Johan Retief, after Jacques Theron rushed to charge down a Senegal exit kick. Swanepoel’s conversion and a 26th-minute penalty made the score 10-0, before Van der Berg sent away speedy left wing Jurgen Meyer for his first test try, which Swanepoel converted.

Tighthead Aranos Coetzee was replaced after 38 minutes by Haitembu Shikufa, while loosehead Jason Benade appeared in discomfort from a shoulder injury when Otja Auala took over after 50 minutes.

Senegal’s efforts were rewarded with tries to their big number 8 Abdelkarim Fofana, wing Ousmane Soumah and flyhalf Mamoudou Niang, with one conversion by fullback Saibo Sakhou.

However, the introduction of the Namibian bench brought distinct energy against the tiring West Africans. Le Roux Malan made a linebreak that led to Van der Berg’s try, before Adriaan Ludick crashed over from close range and Armand Combrinck converted a lineout maul that advanced about ten metres.

Scrumhalf Andrew (AJ) Kearns, replacing Jacques Theron, showed attacking prowess to score two tries, while nr 8 Adriaan Booysen stormed through for the final five-pointer. Cliven Loubser converted four of the last six tries.



Other match day 1 results

• Zimbabwe beat Morocco 43-8 (halftime 16-5). Sables fly-half Ian Prior maintained 100 percent with his eight kicks off the tee, for a contribution of 23 points, while fullback Tapiwa Mafura, wings Edward Sigauke and Trevor Gurwe and replacement forward Dylan Utete converting tries. The earliest match of the day was played in pouring rain, with the sun only appearing in the second half.

• Algeria beat Cote d’Ivoire 41-6 (halftime 8-6), with six tries without reply.

• Kenya beat Uganda 32-24 (halftime 12-7), despite a stirring late comeback from the hosts.



Match day 2 fixtures Sunday 13 July (Namibian time)

09:00 – Cote d’Ivoire v Senegal

11:00 – Morocco vs Uganda

13:00 – Algeria v Namibia

15:00 – Zimbabwe v Kenya