12.08.2006
Canada 56,
United States 7 in St Johns (WCQ America)
Canada won by 49 points. I predicted Canada by 9.
An easy win to a fired-up
Canadian side has put them into the 2007 Rugby World Cup. The USA will now play
a home-away series against Uruguay to see who fills America 3 slot.
17.06.2006 Canada 33-18 in
Edmonton (Churchill Cup, 5th/6th playoff)
26.06.2005 USA 20-19 in
Edmonton (Churchill Cup, Playoff 3rd,4th)
25.05.2005 Canada 30-26 in
Tokyo (Super Cup Preliminary)
19.06.2004 Canada 32-29 in
Edmonton (Churchill Cup, Playoff 3rd,4th)
27.05.2004 Canada 23-20 in
Tokyo (Superpowers Cup, semi-final)
GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-Canada 18th, USA 19th
North America Table-Canada 1st,
USA 2nd
http://www.rugbycanada.ca/index.php?lang=en&page_id=10&news_id=2084
http://www.rugbycanada.ca/index.php?lang=en&page_id=10&news_id=2082
Zimbabwe 22,
Madagascar 22 in Bulawayo (Africa Cup, Group D)
Match drawn. I predicted Madagascar by 12.
Report emailed from Paul
Segombe, CAR
“Zimbabwe came from behind
to draw 22-22 with visiting Madagascar at Hartsfield Bulawayo to throw open
Group ‘D’ of the Africa Rugby Confederation competition open.
Without inspirational captain
Max Madziva who failed a fitness test and UK-based centre Daniel Hondo, the
onus was on full-back Cleopas Makotose to wear the band and force a draw for
the Chris Lampard-coached Sables.
Norman Mukondiwa changed his
cricket bats for a rugby ball as Lampard bloodied five newcomers.
Zimbabwe had to wait until
the four minutes to the end when former national under-21 fly half Paul Staak
kept a cool nerve to convert a try by fellow new cap Gardner Nechironga.
The match which was played
in good spirit before lively fans from Bulawayo ended in unfortunate
circumstances for second row Fortune Chipendo had to be rushed to the hospital.
How the Zimbabweans fought
back from 5-17 down at half time is a story for another day but tells of the
resilience of this youthful side which relied heavily on home talent with a
sprinkle from the paid ranks.
Harrison Rakoto led a lively
Madagascar backline kicking over a penalty in the in the 14th minute before
Mario Rakotomalala crossed the line in the 30th minute which Rakotoarisoa
converted for a 10-0 lead.
Zimbabwe replied when
stand-in captain Makotse touched down in the 33rd minute but winger Tengai
Nemadire missed the conversion. The lively exchange had just started with
Madagascar restoring a 12-point gap after Rakotoarisoa replied with a try in
the 37th minute and Rakotonirina converted for a 17-5 lead for the visitors.
The revival for Zimbabwe was
engineered by debutant fly-half Paul Staak who tucked away a penalty in the
13th minute and five minutes later Makotose grounded the second try for
Zimbabwe from a move initiated by Lloyd Makwiti. This brought the game to
within Zimbabwe’s reach after Staak converted for the visitors to lead 17-15.
Rakotoarisoa opened the gap
for Madagascar with a try in the 30th minute of this half. Gardner Nechironga,
another new cap killed off any illusions of the Madagascar team carrying the
day with a try five minutes later. All eyes were on Staak as he lined up the
conversion which would tie the game. He kept a cool head and slotted the
conversion.
The Sables have their next
match against Zambia on September 16 away.
29.08.2004 Madagascar 23-18
in Antanavira (CAR Div.1, Pool 3)
19.07.2003 Madagascar 21-0
in Harare (CAR Div.1 Pool C-Zimb. Defaulted)
02.06.2002 Zimbabwe 52-3 in
Antanavira (WCQ Africa Rnd 3, South: CAR 1 South)
03.06.1987 Zimbabwe 66-15 in
Nairobi (CAR Tournament)
GWC Rugby Rankings: Africa Table-Madagascar 3rd, Zimbabwe 9th
CHANGE-Madagascar still 3rd, Zimbabwe move up to 4th.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200608090739.html
http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/viewinfo.cfm?linkid=13&id=5076
Uganda 22,
Kenya 20 in Nairobi (Elgan Cup)
Uganda won by 2 points. I predicted Uganda by 7.
Sent by email from Paul
Segombe, CAR
Kenya 20-22 Uganda
Cranes(Full test)
Kenya Women 00- 03 Lady
Cranes(Full test)
Kenya U21 29- Emerging
Cranes 14
“Former Springbok winger
Chester Williams claimed another major scalp when he steered Uganda to their
first win of the three-year old Elgon Cup which is an annual two-leg Test
between Kenya and Uganda. Before that the Lady Cranes overcame the Kenyan women
0-3 in the closest game the two teams have ever played between the two sides
Uganda Cranes clawed back
from behind twice to narrowly defeat Kenya 22-20 in a closely contested match
that lived up to its top billing. This is the first time in two years that
Uganda has won the annual tie. The teams drew 7-7 on May 13 in Kampala.
The visitors who were
cheered by their 200 traveling fans outplayed Kenya in the forwards and evenly
contested possession in the backs.
It was Uganda winger Allan
Musoke who silenced the Kenyan fans with a try eight minutes to time grounding
a kick from substitute Philip Karumana.
Kenya did not have a dream
start and had to wait until in the 30th minute to score the first points.
Fly-half Lavin Asego who kept Uganda at bay with long kicks for touch combined
well with Humphrey Kayange to run unchallenged under the posts. Scrum-half
Moses Kola converted.
Five minutes later, a
powerful run by Dan Weku ended in a try which Kola converted.
In the second half, the
hosts slackened the pace and their fitness waned to give Uganda an edge. They
did not shy away from the invitation. The comeback was engineered by the
forwards who shoved their much lighter opponents into submission.
It was not long before
Uganda got their first points through Robert Ssseguya, their most capped player
who barged over after his captain Peter Magona won a ball in the line out, five
metres out. Uganda rucked and mauled to the line.
Magona was next over and
Sseguya converted to cut Kenya’s lead by two points. This only fired up the
Ugandans who went on an overdrive. Kola put over a penalty to stretch the lead
17-12 but frustration and impatience started to creep in Kenya’s ranks and lack
of concentration was punished by Victor Wadia who ploughed through heartless
tackles to score and tie the match 17-17.
From then, it was anybody’s
game. Kola drilled over a penalty in the 32nd minute but Kenya was struggling
and was unable to hold onto this narrow 20-17 lead. Eight minutes before the
end, former Kenya captain Benjamin Ayimba was yellow carded. Uganda sniffed
victory and threw everything into attack. Karumuna raised a high ball which
Musoke chased to score before a baffled Kenya outfit.
When the final whistle was
blown by South African referee Willie Roos, Uganda celebrations hit fever pitch
as the players and fans danced with the Kenyans crest-fallen.
Frank Ndong was at pains to
explain the defeat. “This is not the best side and we barely had two effective
training sessions although this should not be used as an excuse. Uganda used
their stronger point which was in the forwards. This match has exposed our
weaknesses namely the inability to defend mauls and playing in phases,” he
acknowledged.
His opposite number Peter
Magona admitted they were nervous in the first half but picked up well in the
second half. “Kenya panicked in the last 10 minutes which was to our
advantage.”
Kenya’s assistant coach
Charles Ngovi said unfortunate circumstances turned around the game for the
Ugandans. “Injury to Daniel Kiptoo, Dan Weku and Salim Chacha dealt a big blow
and destabilised our forwards and backs. It is difficult to stop any team that
mauls well and that is what the Ugandans did,” he commented.
Yayiro Kasasa, Uganda’s head
coach commented that the game was quite tight. “It took self belief and the
ability to dictate the pace in the second half. This is good for East African
rugby and we hope that Tanzania could come on board. They will struggle
initially but gain a lot of experience.
Franck Fremont, Kenya’s
French technical adviser said the loss was a wake up call for Kenya especially
before the Rugby World Cup qualifier match against Namibia on September 9. “The
Ugandans played a typical South Africa game because of the influence of Chester
Williams. Our main undoing was in the first half when we hand the wind on our
side. The rule is you must score more than 17 points to be able to carry the day.
We scored only 14.
We also did not stop Uganda
with the first hit which enabled them go in several phases and once they
started mauling, it was hard to stop. Uganda fought very well in the pack. We
expect the same game against Namibia and it will be important to stop them with
the first hit. Another aspect which Kenya should learn is to be patient and
build up because we quickly lost the possession by hastily kicking away
possession.” Fremont said this was a wake up call for Kenya.
But, Chester Williams had
the last say acknowledging the first half was not good. “The game came alive in
the last 30 minutes when they played according to instructions. If we can play
this badly and win, I think we have a good chance against Morocco if we play
well.””
13.05.2006 Drawn 7-7 in
Kampala (Elgan Cup)
25.06.2005 Kenya 8-5 in
Kampala (WCQ Africa Rnd 1B, Pool B)
31.07.2004 Kenya 18-8 in
Nairobi
14.06.2003 Kenya 22-21 in
Kampala
05.10.2002 Uganda 31-22 in
Nairobi (CAR North 2)
GWC Rugby Rankings: Africa Table-Uganda 4th, Kenya 8th
No Change
http://allafrica.com/stories/200608100169.html
Thanks to Eric Odanga, Kenya
RFU