THIS WEEKEND 12 AUGUST

 

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.

 

LAST FIVE ENCOUNTERS

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

 

Details

 

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.

 

Details

 

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

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.

 

UGANDA CRANES WIN ELGON CUP ON THIRD ATTEMPT

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.””

 

Details

 

LAST FIVE ENCOUNTERS

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