The race to qualify for Rugby World Cup qualifying finally got underway in Oceania with one-off matches in the East and West divisions of the Oceania Cup, while the Africa Cup semi final second legs mean that only two nations can still dream of playing at New Zealand 2011.
Tunisia and Namibia both enjoyed convincing victories over Uganda and Ivory Coast on Saturday, while Papua New Guinea and Cook Islands came out on top in their Oceania Cup matches with Vanuatu and Niue.
In their one-off match in the West division of the Oceania Cup, Papua New Guinea proved too strong for Vanuatu, running in 14 tries before a crowd of nearly 5,000 to triumph 86-12 at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby.
They are now only a victory over Cook Islands - the 29-7 conquerors of Niue at Growers Stadium in Pukekohe, New Zealand, the same day - away from a two-legged play-off with Samoa to determine Oceania's qualifier for Rugby World Cup 2011.
The 74-point margin did not reflect the efforts of a brave Vanuatu side, who must have been feeling a sense of déjà vu - having lost 97-3 to PNG in a RWC qualifier in 2005 - when flanker Alex Haija crashed over the try-line in the first minute.
Comfort zone for PNG
Papua New Guinea's fast rucking and phase play put Vanuatu on the back foot practically from the first whistle and within 10 minutes the score had increased to 12-0 after prop Adam Hill barged his way over for the try, which diminutive full back Jack Maraha converted.
The Pukpuks ran in a further six tries in the half to Vanuatu's lone effort by wing Rometi Usamoli, who showed a glimpse of the pace in the visitors' backline when he latched on to a loose PNG pass deep in his 22 to outpace the cover defence on a 90-metre run.
With the half time score at 52‐7, Papua New Guinea could have been forgiven for shifting back into low gear with the game virtually in the bag, and for the first 12 minutes it certainly looked that way as the flat Pukpuks committed unforced errors allowing Vanuatu more possession.
Papua New Guinea, though, crossed for another six tries to a consolation score from fly half Kaltonga Kalsau six minutes from time. In total 11 players scored PNG's tries with Maraha claiming a hat-trick and Edwin Noki a brace in the victory.
However while happy with the win, Papua New Guinea captain Raymond Romalus was not too getting carried away and admitted his side have plenty to work on before facing Cook Islands at the same venue on Saturday.
"We've still got improving to do as a team," admitted Romalus. "I felt the boys played well but we were never really pushed out of our comfort zone. We'd like more structure to our play and for the next match we've got a few areas to work on."
Two remain in Africa contention
Tunisia's dream of qualifying for their first Rugby World Cup remains on track following a 38-13 victory over Uganda in their Africa Cup semi final second leg at the Stade El Menzah in Tunis on Saturday.
They now face Namibia, the 54-14 conquerors of Ivory Coast in Windhoek, in the Africa Cup final in November with the winner qualifying for RWC 2011 to join defending champions South Africa, Wales, Fiji and Oceania 1 in Pool D. The loser will enter the final place play-off.
Tunisia went into the second leg with a 24-point advantage having beaten the Ugandans 41-17 in Kampala a fortnight ago and first half tries from centre Amor Mazgar, scrum half Sabri Gmir and fly half Lofti Ben M'sallem ended any hopes of the visitors overturning the deficit.
Leading 25-8 at half time, Tunisia gave their home fans more reason to cheer by crossing for two tries in the second half, the first from captain Kais Aissa before Gmir grabbed his second of the match after prop Ronald Adigasi had touched down for Uganda.
Second half key for Namibia
The other place in the Africa Cup final had been in the balance going into the second leg with Ivory Coast having twice come from behind to earn a 13-13 draw with Namibia in Abidjan, but the Namibians ultimately ran out convincing winners.
Namibia, who are bidding for a fourth successive Rugby World Cup appearance, did open the scoring in the second minute with Chrisander Botha's penalty, but the sides locked at 6-6 after 15 minutes at the Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium on Saturday.
Full back Botha scored the only try of the first half to ensure the hosts went in leading 16-9 at the break with the dreams of Rugby World Cup qualification still very much alive for both sides at that stage.
However four unanswered tries from number 8 Tinus du Plessis, replacement Eugene Jantjies, wing McGrath van Wyk and centre Piet van Zyl ensured it would be Namibia looking forward to the Africa Cup final later this year.
Ivory Coast hooker Olivier Diomande did cross for their only try of the match, but there was still time for Botha - who would end the qualifier with a personal tally of 29 points - and flanker Jacques Burger to cross and bring up the half century for Namibia.
With additional reporting from Peter Pusal
