JOHANNESBURG – Namibia scored 18 tries to humiliate Tunisia 118-0 in a 2019 Rugby World Cup Africa qualifier this weekend while Kenya upset Morocco 28-24 in another second-round match.
Seeking a sixth consecutive appearance at the four-yearly rugby union global showcase, Namibia top the table with a maximum 10 points from two matches.
Kenya come next with five points from a bonus-point victory in Casablanca, followed by Morocco (three) and Zimbabwe (two) while Uganda and Tunisia are pointless.
The table toppers after the round-robin competition go to the World Cup in Japan while the runners-up get a second chance in an inter-continent repechage tournament.
Lesley Klim, who plays for English second-tier club Doncaster, and Johan Corne Greyling scored four tries each for merciless Namibia, who led 52-0 at half-time.
Chrysander Botha got three, Wian Conradie, Johan Deysel, Pieter-Jan van Lill, Damian Stevens, Johann Tromp and Max Katjijeko one each and they were awarded a penalty try.
Cliven Loubser kicked eight conversions, PW Steenkamp four and Botha one at a Windhoek stadium named after current Namibian state president Hage Geingob.
Namibia wing Lesley Klim on the attack against Tunisia during their Africa Gold Cup rugby match in Windhoek on Saturday afternoon. Namibia won the match 118-0. Photo: Helge Schutz
Namibia coach and former Wales lock Phil Davies said: "I am in the process of building a competitive team and our flowing passing game in the second half was impressive."
Kenya overcame a 10-point second-half deficit to triumph with the consolation for the North Africans being two bonus points.
Tony Onyango and Moses Amusala scored in quick succession during the second half and Darwin Mukidza converted both to turn the match in favour of the visitors.
Onyango completed a brace and Mukidza added the extra points again to stetch the lead to 28-17 before Morocco responded with a converted try.
The home team had a late chance to snatch victory, but a knock-on after a scrum enabled the relieved east Africans to boot the ball into touch and end the game.
Kenya host two-time qualifiers Zimbabwe in Nairobi and Namibia face Morocco in Casablanca this Saturday in the third series of matches while Tunisia and Uganda have byes.
Zimbabwe are coached by Peter de Villiers, who took South Africa to the 2011 World Cup quarter-finals.