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On arrival in Gaborone last week the Nigeria team were advised that due to the non-arrival of Cameroun the six team format had been reduced to a five team format and a new timetable and draw had taken place.
Instead of three games each team would now play just two games each. Nigeria, originally scheduled to play Mauritius, Cote d’Ivoire and Botswana would have to face only Mauritius and Cote d’Ivoire.
Nigeria team management registered dissatisfaction with the fact that the draw had not been conducted in the presence of all teams, however in the interest of building rugby unity and among other African rugby playing nations agreed to go ahead.
“Nigeria and CDI, had to travel the furthest to get here to play and yet both teams have both their tests scheduled with just a three day gap between them.
Nigeria played on Sunday and Wednesday, Cote d’Ivoire played Wednesday and will play again on Saturday whileMauritius, Zambia and Botswana all have a six day break between their open games on played on Sunday and their second game to be played on Saturday” Having lost the opening game against Mauritius (22-26) Nigeria was optimistic of their chances against 48th ranked IRB team Cote D’Ivoire.
Nigeria had fought back strongly against Mauritius coming back well in the second half after being down 20-3 at one stage to outscore Mauritius three tries to two on the day.
In the only test Nigeria played in 2011 Mauritius had beaten Nigeria by 30 points. Coach, Steve Lewis, was not sure what sort of game Cote d’Ivoire would play. Being West African they were physically bigger and stronger than Mauritius were but they were also much more experienced at this level of rugby.
The loose head prop against Nigeria had been a young beginner when he played for CDI at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa. As in the opening game Nigeria were contesting possession well and driving up field when in the 8th minute the ball was thrown to the back of the Nigerian line out but thrown too long and it was scooped up by Cote d’Ivoire and they ran 60 metres of the opening try. Nigeria failed to capitalise on numeric superiority when the francophone hooker was yellow carded and sent off for 10 minutes early in the first half.
Tiwa Obisesan (Kent University), playing Fly Half instead of his usual inside centre position reduced the lead to four points with a well taken penalty on the half hour. Inexperience at this level against such experienced opposition cost Nigeria when having scored they gave away penalties.
Two penalties for infringement at the rucks and a very well srtuck 40 metre drop goal from open play stretched the French speaking neighbours lead to 16-3. Obisesan closed the gap to 16-9 with two penalties and the Nigerians began to increase their pace and the Nigerians’ physicality had Cote d’Ivoire scrambling back in defence.
Particularly impressive again was Ejike, the livewire number seven flank. Nigeria wereturning the tide, hitting the rucks and mauls with true aggression and counter rucking as the coach had exhorted them to do.
On the 46th minute the counter rucking was so effective the ball popped out on the Nigerian too quickly and was scooped up by CDI’s open side flank and the counter attack was swift and deadly with another try under the posts. 23-9 Two penalties later, with the first converted by Obisesan, Nigeria opted to spurn the possible three points on offer by going for posts and instead opted to kick for touch, to gain ground with the throw in to come (kicking the ball into touch from a penalty gives the throw in to the team awarded the penalty and not the opposition as is the case when the ball is kicked into touch during normal play).
Nigeria lost the lineout from their throw and had to fall back into their half to start the attack again. Nigeria’s bigger younger forwards were putting intense pressure on the scrumand with the crowd getting behind them the underdogs fought back with a long range rolling maul.
CJ Osazuwa, Obi Wilson, FrancisUgwuand Junior Harrison all drove the ball up well until Oluwale Doherty crashed over for the well worked forward try. The conversion was missed and with it the last scoring opportunity for Nigeria.
Two late penalties against Nigeria, one for a late tackle could as easily have been blown as a legitimate attempted kick charge down, gave a slightly lopsided final score to what was a much more closely contest game than the final score would indicate.
So now with the Africa Cup behind us valuable lesson have been learned and the focus of attention for Nigerian international rugby shift to preparation for the Confederation of African Rugby sevens in Morocco in September, and the chance to qualify for the IRB 7s World Cup in Russia next year.
The bulk of that squad will come from the faster, fleet footed backs and loose forwards who began to gel into a formidable team this past week. Nigerian rugby has a long way to go, but this past week has shown the route to follow.
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