'The Makis beat the Springboks'
An historic victory for Madagascar
Madagascan rugby is celebrating its centenary and did so in style on Saturday when its team, the Makis, beat the South African Amateur team 33-31 before 40 000 people in Antananarivo in Saturday.
As this was the semi-final of the Confederation of African Rugby's Top, Madagascar now go into the final in which they will play Morocco at Stade de France on 26 November ion a curtainraiser to the Test between South Africa and France.
On Saturday Morocco beat Namibia 49-0. Namibian rugby is in the midst of serious squabbles. Earlier in the competition they failed to fulfill an away fixture with Côte d'Ivoire but then scored over 50 points in beating Madagascar. The team they took to play the Moroccans, all of whim play professional rugby in France, was a much weakened team because the core of the country's players did not play.
The South African team is chosen by the convener of selectors Peter Jooste, and the team's coaches,. André van Wyk and Dali Ndebele from players who do not play in Super 12, Currie Cup or Vodacom Cup.
The Mahamasina stadium in Antananarivo was packed with enthusiastic spectators for a match of exceptional emotion. The president of the Malagasy Republic, Marc Ravalomanana, was at the match and introduced to the teams beforehand.
Cliffie Booysen of SARU was at the match and said: "Our boys were overawed but I don't want to take anything away from Madagascar. They were the better team on the day and deserved their victory."
In particular he was impressed by the fly half Sidoni Rakotoarisoa, lock Tolotra Ramaromiantso and wing Alain Rakotonirina in the home side.
Berthin Rafalimanana the Madagascar coach said after the match: "The result proves that Madagascans have talent in Rugby. The victory of Makis over the South-Africans is a great first in the history of Malagasy Rugby .
"The success is based on the unity between the players and the coaches with the support of the public."
At the end the South Africans formed a guard of honor to applaud the Madagascans from the field.
The South African captain, Yongama Mkaza said afterwards: "The Madagascans played very well. They carried out their gameplan on attack and reacted well in defense.
"We were better in the last ten minutes but it was too late even if we could have drawn the match in the last second."
After five minutes the South Africans led 14-0 through tries by left-wing Elvin Hugo and 35-year-old prop Hakkies Swart, and the crowd was expecting the worst but the home side fought back with a try by Alain Rakotonirina which encouraged a fightback that gave the home side a big 27-17 lead at half-time.
Penalties were exchanged in the second half and with the score at 33-26 to the home side, the South Africans scored as Theo Becker went over in the last move of the match. The crowd held its breath abut the conversion was missed and the pent-up excitement burst into gleeful noise.
Afterwards the Makis coach Jean Marc Louvel: "Wow, it's good!"
Scorers:
For SA:Tries: Elvin Hugo , Hakkies Swart, Theo BeckerCons: André Williams 2Pen: Williams 4
For Madagascar:Tries: Alain Rakotonirina, Tolotra Ramaromiantso, Mito Randriamamitiana Cons: José Rakoto Harison 3Drop: Rakoto Harison Pen: Rakoto Harison 3
Referee: Steven Paul Ojambo (Uganda)Touch judges: Raymond Oruo, John Maina Gachoya (both Kenya)Match Commissioner: Jean-Luc Barthes
Source: Rivals Digital Media, all right reserved
Monday November 07 2005
Madagascan rugby is celebrating its centenary and did so in style on Saturday when its team, the Makis, beat the South African Amateur team 33-31 before 40 000 people in Antananarivo in Saturday.
As this was the semi-final of the Confederation of African Rugby's Top, Madagascar now go into the final in which they will play Morocco at Stade de France on 26 November ion a curtainraiser to the Test between South Africa and France.
On Saturday Morocco beat Namibia 49-0. Namibian rugby is in the midst of serious squabbles. Earlier in the competition they failed to fulfill an away fixture with Côte d'Ivoire but then scored over 50 points in beating Madagascar. The team they took to play the Moroccans, all of whim play professional rugby in France, was a much weakened team because the core of the country's players did not play.
The South African team is chosen by the convener of selectors Peter Jooste, and the team's coaches,. André van Wyk and Dali Ndebele from players who do not play in Super 12, Currie Cup or Vodacom Cup.
The Mahamasina stadium in Antananarivo was packed with enthusiastic spectators for a match of exceptional emotion. The president of the Malagasy Republic, Marc Ravalomanana, was at the match and introduced to the teams beforehand.
Cliffie Booysen of SARU was at the match and said: "Our boys were overawed but I don't want to take anything away from Madagascar. They were the better team on the day and deserved their victory."
In particular he was impressed by the fly half Sidoni Rakotoarisoa, lock Tolotra Ramaromiantso and wing Alain Rakotonirina in the home side.
Berthin Rafalimanana the Madagascar coach said after the match: "The result proves that Madagascans have talent in Rugby. The victory of Makis over the South-Africans is a great first in the history of Malagasy Rugby .
"The success is based on the unity between the players and the coaches with the support of the public."
At the end the South Africans formed a guard of honor to applaud the Madagascans from the field.
The South African captain, Yongama Mkaza said afterwards: "The Madagascans played very well. They carried out their gameplan on attack and reacted well in defense.
"We were better in the last ten minutes but it was too late even if we could have drawn the match in the last second."
After five minutes the South Africans led 14-0 through tries by left-wing Elvin Hugo and 35-year-old prop Hakkies Swart, and the crowd was expecting the worst but the home side fought back with a try by Alain Rakotonirina which encouraged a fightback that gave the home side a big 27-17 lead at half-time.
Penalties were exchanged in the second half and with the score at 33-26 to the home side, the South Africans scored as Theo Becker went over in the last move of the match. The crowd held its breath abut the conversion was missed and the pent-up excitement burst into gleeful noise.
Afterwards the Makis coach Jean Marc Louvel: "Wow, it's good!"
Scorers:
For SA:Tries: Elvin Hugo , Hakkies Swart, Theo BeckerCons: André Williams 2Pen: Williams 4
For Madagascar:Tries: Alain Rakotonirina, Tolotra Ramaromiantso, Mito Randriamamitiana Cons: José Rakoto Harison 3Drop: Rakoto Harison Pen: Rakoto Harison 3
Referee: Steven Paul Ojambo (Uganda)Touch judges: Raymond Oruo, John Maina Gachoya (both Kenya)Match Commissioner: Jean-Luc Barthes
Source: Rivals Digital Media, all right reserved
Monday November 07 2005
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