Namibians are caught cold by wily Qadri

RECENT events in Casablanca have confirmed the old rugby adage that you are never so vulnerable as when you have just scored.

It was the 45th minute and Namibia were leading 35-0 when Morocco’s loose head Bilal Dhikal was sent off for a dangerous tiptackle on Namibia lock Ruan Ludick, after which the Namibians opted for a scrum five from which they easily marched over for a penalty try. So far so normal.

But then, while the Namibians were celebrating and ambling back to their half, the Moroccan left wing Mohamed Qadri gathered the ball, sprinted to the halfway line and took a dropped kick restart into the wide open spaces out on the left.

The Morocco Sevens speedster sprinted after his own kick and touched down in the corner, beating three Namibians who belatedly gave chase.

Namibia cried foul but why? After a penalty try the conversion is automatic these days and the restarting team are free to take it as quickly as they want unless the referee delays the game, say for an injury. In this case he didn’t.

As long as there were no Moroccans in front of the kick – there weren’t – and as long as the ball was collected after the requisite 10m – it was – why should there be any problem?

Sport is about playing to the regulations. As any basketball player will tell you a side is never more exposed than when one of their players has just scored a spectacular slam dunk and the momentum takes him out of bounds into the crowd.

A quick restart and for a few seconds it will be five on four. Using that momentary advantage is what sport is about.