Namibia beat Tunisia in tough tie

NAMIBIA put up a gritty performance to beat Tunisia 23-15 on Saturday evening to keep their chances alive of qualifying for the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

The foundation for their victory was laid by their superb pack of forwards who pushed Tunisia away at will in the scrums and a gutsy defensive display by the whole team. In the final minutes, Tunisia camped on Namibia’s tryline but they just could not get through as Namibia defended with determination and courage.Here, captain Jacques Burger and flanker Schalk van der Merwe were superb, but it was in the set scrums that Namibia put in an awesome display, pushing Tunisia back for metres at a time.After Namibia’s disappointing 30-26 loss to Kenya in Nairobi on September 9, Namibian coach Johan Venter said that debutant prop Johnny Redelinghuys, would become a great Namibian forward.On Saturday night his words rang true as Redelinghuys, in only his second match for Namibia, put in an awesome scrummaging display that won him the player of the match award.But it was close as the Tunisians gave everything they got and the result hung in the balance till the end.Tunisia took the lead through a penalty by Kais Aissa but Namibia immediately struck back from the kick-off when Thinus du Plessis charged down a kick to score a try, converted by Emile Wessels.Wessels increased the lead with another penalty but Tunisia came back when winger Haithem Cheli caught a cross kick to score in the corner.With Aissa landing a fine conversion, the teams were level at 10-all.Namibia’s incessant pressure in the scrums began to take its toll and they were finally rewarded when referee David Keane of Ireland awarded a penalty try after Tunisia tried to collapse the scrum on their own tryline.Wessels added the conversion to put Namibia 17-10 ahead.Tunisia showed great character to come back and flanker Yousri Souguir went over for a fine solo try in the corner after eluding the flying tackles of Nico Esterhuizen and Emile Wessels.Aissa’s conversion was narrowly wide and Namibia held a slight 17-15 advantage at halftime.TUNISIA ATTACKS Wessels put Namibia 20-15 ahead with another penalty and tried to pin Tunisia in their own half with long touch kicks.For long periods, Tunisia attacked furiously and only desperate defence by Namibia kept them out.With time running out, Tunisia were once again penalised for another scrum infringement and Wessels’ accurate kick put them 23-15 ahead.Tunisia came back with a furious assault, forcing two scrums on Namibia’s tryline in the final minutes.But Namibia’s scrum stood firm and some resolute defence kept them out until the final whistle.Namibia will now meet the other African group winners, probably Morocco, in home and away matches to determine who will join South Africa from the African continent at the 2007 World Cup in France.www.namibiasport.com.naIn the final minutes, Tunisia camped on Namibia’s tryline but they just could not get through as Namibia defended with determination and courage.Here, captain Jacques Burger and flanker Schalk van der Merwe were superb, but it was in the set scrums that Namibia put in an awesome display, pushing Tunisia back for metres at a time.After Namibia’s disappointing 30-26 loss to Kenya in Nairobi on September 9, Namibian coach Johan Venter said that debutant prop Johnny Redelinghuys, would become a great Namibian forward.On Saturday night his words rang true as Redelinghuys, in only his second match for Namibia, put in an awesome scrummaging display that won him the player of the match award.But it was close as the Tunisians gave everything they got and the result hung in the balance till the end.Tunisia took the lead through a penalty by Kais Aissa but Namibia immediately struck back from the kick-off when Thinus du Plessis charged down a kick to score a try, converted by Emile Wessels.Wessels increased the lead with another penalty but Tunisia came back when winger Haithem Cheli caught a cross kick to score in the corner.With Aissa landing a fine conversion, the teams were level at 10-all.Namibia’s incessant pressure in the scrums began to take its toll and they were finally rewarded when referee David Keane of Ireland awarded a penalty try after Tunisia tried to collapse the scrum on their own tryline.Wessels added the conversion to put Namibia 17-10 ahead.Tunisia showed great character to come back and flanker Yousri Souguir went over for a fine solo try in the corner after eluding the flying tackles of Nico Esterhuizen and Emile Wessels.Aissa’s conversion was narrowly wide and Namibia held a slight 17-15 advantage at halftime.TUNISIA ATTACKS Wessels put Namibia 20-15 ahead with another penalty and tried to pin Tunisia in their own half with long touch kicks.For long periods, Tunisia attacked furiously and only desperate defence by Namibia kept them out.With time running out, Tunisia were once again penalised for another scrum infringement and Wessels’ accurate kick put them 23-15 ahead.Tunisia came back with a furious assault, forcing two scrums on Namibia’s tryline in the final minutes.But Namibia’s scrum stood firm and some resolute defence kept them out until the final whistle.Namibia will now meet the other African group winners, probably Morocco, in home and away matches to determine who will join South Africa from the African continent at the 2007 World Cup in France.www.namibiasport.com.na