MOROCCO v IVORY COAST: CAR Division 1C

29.06.2013

Venue: Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire

Referee: Sébastien Boyer (France)

 

Preview
This is the second rugby test match featured this weekend.

Both teams were knocked out of Rugby World Cup qualification last year. Morocco losing to both Madagascar and Senegal in CAR Division 1B. Ivory Coast did not progress to Division 1B despite winning both their games. Hosts Botswana were promoted ahead of them.

In this year’s tournament the two top seeded sides are to clash on the last day. In the first two rounds Ivory Coast defeated Zambia 77-3 and Mauritius 83-3 whilst Morocco defeated Niger 77-3 and had a tougher game against Nigeria before winning 38-8.

The winner of this game will be promoted to CAR Division 1B for 2014.

Last Five Encounters
15.06.2010 Morocco 60-3 in Tunis (CAR Division 1A; Semi-final)
02.08.2008 Ivory Coast 21-9 in Casablanca (WCQ Africa R1; Pool B)
07.10.2006 Morocco 23-7 in Casab. (WCQ Africa R2; Group A; CAR Div.1A)
17.06.2006 Drawn 9-9 in Abidjan (WCQ Africa R2; Group A; CAR Div.1A)
27.03.2004 Morocco 11-6 in Casablanca (CAR Division 1A, North)

These two teams first met in 1990, Morocco winning 11-4 in Harare, a World Cup Qualifying match. Morocco had already lost to Zimbabwe and Tunisia and were eliminated.

GWC Rugby Rankings
Africa Table-Morocco 9th, Ivory Coast 11th

IRB Ranking Points
Morocco 52.35, Ivory Coast 47.67

Prediction: Morocco by 13 points

Team lists not available

In the other two games on the final day of this tournament Zambia plays Nigeria whilst Mauritius plays Niger.