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International

What to watch in men’s rugby: Namibia out to defend African title

By Martyn Thomas

120 days ago

LYON, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 27: The players of Namibia line up during the National Anthems prior to the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Uruguay and Namibia at Parc Olympique on September 27, 2023 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Namibia will continue their Rugby Africa Cup title defence this week and you can find out whether the Welwitschias can win the tournament for a seventh successive time live and for free with RugbyPass TV.

The Welwitschias booked their place in the semi-finals with a six-try 38-5 defeat of Burkina Faso in Kampala last Saturday.

Despite the scoreline, Namibia were made to work hard for their win and didn’t breach the opposition line until the 33rd minute when Quirione Majiedt notched the first of his two tries.

Brodie Retallick opens up on Walk the Talk | Trailer | RPTV

All Blacks and lineout king Brodie Retallick opens up to Jim Hamilton in the latest episode of Walk the Talk. Full episode available now exclusively to RugbyPass TV

Watch now

Brodie Retallick opens up on Walk the Talk | Trailer | RPTV

All Blacks and lineout king Brodie Retallick opens up to Jim Hamilton in the latest episode of Walk the Talk. Full episode available now exclusively to RugbyPass TV

Watch now

Even then it took until well into the second half for Namibia to pull away from Burkina Faso and their reward for victory is a semi-final against Zimbabwe.

The Sables held off a second-half fightback from Uganda last weekend, holding on to beat the hosts 22-20 in Kampala and secure their passage to the last four.

Wednesday’s semi-final is a repeat of the teams’ meeting at the same stage in Aix-en-Provence in 2022, the last time the Rugby Africa Cup was staged.

Fixture

Internationals

Zimbabwe

32 - 10

Full-time

Namibia

All Stats and Data

Namibia won that match 34-19 en route to the title and qualification to Rugby World Cup 2023, and the Welwitschias have history on their side. They haven’t lost to Zimbabwe in their previous 13 meetings, dating back to 2001.

Whoever comes out on top in the latest chapter of their shared rivalry will play either Kenya or Algeria in Sunday’s final in Kampala.

In a mirror of the other 2022 semi-final, Algeria will hope to avenge their narrow 36-33 defeat to the Simbas in Marseille two years ago.

Algeria full-back Julien Caminati kicked 17 points last Saturday as Algeria booked their place in the last four with a 32-12 victory against Ivory Coast.

Fixture

Internationals

Kenya

12 - 20

Full-time

Algeria

All Stats and Data

They will face Kenya again on Wednesday, after the Simbas ran in five tries to beat Senegal 36-17.

Day two’s action will get underway on Wednesday morning when Senegal take on Ivory Coast before Burkina Faso face Uganda in the placing semi-finals.

The 2024 Rugby Africa Cup champions will be crowned on Sunday, and you can stream all of the action from Kampala on RugbyPass TV, except in Uganda.

Wednesday, July 24th

09:00 BST (GMT+1) – Rugby Africa Cup 2024 day two – WATCH LIVE HERE

Sunday, July 28th

09:00 BST – Rugby Africa Cup 2024 finals day – WATCH LIVE HERE

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Comments on RugbyPass

Bull Shark 9 minutes ago

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

Not true. I'm a South African and I absolutely loved seeing the Wallabies beating England. And miss the Wallabies of old who were a devastating force with some of the greatest players of all time.

I hear quite regularly that Australians prefer Aussie rules, league, and cricket over rugby.

So again, seems like Australians are to blame for the state of the game in Australia?

16 Go to comments

Bull Shark 17 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I find Ben Smith to be an emotionally driven hysteric. So I question everything he writes.

He launched into the year about the ABs being back this year. For a "journalist" his opinions are based on the flavour of the month.

He's at least gone quiet about how sh1t the boks actually are. Although I suspect he's working on an outrageous article to that effect as we speak, to drive engagement after the end of the Autumn series, as we'll all be taking a break until the 6N.

22 Go to comments

Chesterfield 20 minutes ago

Michael Hooper reacts to Scott Barrett’s controversial late-game call

The dominant pack should be enforcing their superiority with maximum points and the psychological advantage of taking the lead.

You don’t get that by saying we’ll settle for three and try again you get it by scoring seven and trying again. Doesn’t come off every time?

No.

But if you’ve asserted dominance letting the opposition off and not trying to build a double score difference is wrong minded.

All blacks have traditionally played to build the unassailable lead not meekly win a single point victory.

11 Go to comments

Arnold 22 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

Aaah. Ben Smith. Ever the unbiased, objective rugby scribe......NOT.

Unable to give credit where it's due, other than for the ABs, especially when it comes to the Boks. His contempt for them is tangible. If you want to " Get Real" about these ABs Ben, consider when they last beat the Boks??? For us Bok fans, beating the ABs is the only true measure.

22 Go to comments

Reader76 41 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

"they [All Blacks] are nuggety and resourceful and don’t wilt. They are prepared to win the hard way, accumulating points by any means necessary."

Sounds like you're describing your arch-nemesis Ben 😁

22 Go to comments

CM 44 minutes ago

'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

This article only shows a part of SBs failings as England Coach. Firstly his reputation st Leicester was false, his SA and Welsh players won the matches not his coaching prowess. He has Wigglesworth as attack coach, someone who rarely attacked when playing. His player selection is awful, ignoring form players and sticking with failed internationals. He picks players that he knows and will be easy to manage for him. What on earth is Slade doing when even for Exeter he does not make line breaks with steppping, pace or guile, why on earth are Cole,George,Steward,Ford,Iseweke and a few other anywhere near the Team. Borthwick is awful as Head Coach of England.

1 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 46 minutes ago

Key Wallabies trio running hot a year after being left in cold

Good to be writing about a WB team that has beaten two 6 N sides in successive weeks, Brett.

Lolesio indeed is looking very comfortable under Schmidt coaching. He must feel as confident now as he was feeling in his spell at Toulon last year. It will be interesting to see how he does against Finn Russell.

30 Go to comments

J Marc 1 hour ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Your unterstanding of the relation FFR LNR, is far better than the one in the article. For Meafou, there is an article on Skelton saying he is totally indispensable in the australian game.

In France they are often compared, and french game is often, but not always ,based on this kind of number 5. But , there are a lot of kind of play in France and in the world, and it's a blessing, because otherwise, the game would be boring.

On my other post ,which you replied, my intention was to explain with some historics facts the main importance, in France, of the championship.

But ,once again, I would prefer 3 games in NZ , with the better french players.

287 Go to comments

Ninjin 1 hour ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I said before the November tests that the AB's should go smash some Nh teams to find their feet and it seems that is just what they did bar France. Could have should have always sucks. Better to look to the future.

22 Go to comments