Namibia took a big step towards Rugby World Cup 2007 with a comprehensive 25-7 qualifying first-leg victory over Morocco in Windhoek at the weekend. Graham Jenkins reports

Namibia took a big step towards Rugby World Cup 2007 with a comprehensive 25-7 first-leg victory over Morocco in their Africa Qualifying clash in Windhoek at the weekend.

The result puts them within touching distance of the global showpiece in France next year ahead of the return leg in Casablanca on November 11.

The eventual winner over the two legs will line up alongside the world's elite as Africa 1 in Pool D with France, Ireland, Argentina and the final qualifer from Europe.

Elsewhere , Portugal and Georgia also moved a little nearer to booking a berth at RWC'07.

Georgia beat Spain 37-23 and Portugal beat Russia 26-23 to set up another two-legged play off that will provide the winner with a France.

The loser of that match-up will play the loser in the Namibia-Morocco tie for the chance to meet Uruguay for one of the repechage qualifying berths.

In other qualifying news the International Rugby Board Executive Committee announced this week the postponement of the 2006 Asian Rugby Football Tournament that was scheduled to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on November 18-25.

The decision was taken due to the current security situation in Sri Lanka.

As the governing body of the game the IRB insisted that it "has wider obligations that require it to take into account security issues relating to participants. In this respect the IRB sought advice on the security situation in Sri Lanka following concerns expressed by several Participating Unions."

The recommendation made to the IRB was that in the present climate the tournament should not go ahead. The IRB and the Asian Rugby Football Union (the IRB's Regional Association in the region) will continue to monitor the situation and a decision on the rescheduling of the tournament will be made at an appropriate time

The 12-team tournament was to involve Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Arabian Gulf, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, India and China.

Furthermore, the Rugby World Cup Board has determined that the Asia Rugby World Cup 2007 Round 3 Qualification matches between Japan, Korea and Hong Kong - that were due to be played as part of the Asian Rugby Football Tournament - should be rescheduled.

The Rugby World Cup Board are still to make a decision in the coming days regarding alternative arrangements for the completion of the Asia Round 3 qualification matches.

The winner of the round-robin competition qualifies directly to RWC 2007 as Asia 1 - joining Australia, Wales, Fiji, Canada in Pool B.

The runner-up advances to the Repechage Round as Asia 2, to play Tonga (Oceania 3) for one last invite to RWC'07.

All but five places at Rugby World Cup 2007 have been filled as the Qualifying process nears its conclusion. By the end of November a further three qualifiers will be known - Africa 1, Asia 1 and Europe 3. Finally in 2007 the last two teams will qualify from the Repechage process when Europe 4, Africa 2, Asia 2, Oceania 3 (Tonga) and Americas 4 (Uruguay) do battle for these last places.

The road to Paris started in 2004 when Andorra hosted Norway. By the time Rugby World Cup 2007 kicks off a remarkable 86 countries will have played in 192 qualifying matches.

In August last year the IRB announced a PS30 million strategic investment programme designed to increase the competitiveness of the Game around the world with the financial success of RWC underwriting the unprecedented programme.

The recent success of Italy and Romania means that all but four of the 20 places at next year's World Cup are taken.

The list of qualifiers so far includes the automatic qualifiers (RWC 2003 quarter-finalists) England, Australia, New Zealand, France, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa and Wales; plus those already qualified: Samoa (Oceania 1), Fiji (Oceania 2), Argentina (Americas 1), Canada (Americas 2), USA (Americas 3), Italy (Europe 1) and Romania (Europe 2).

In Pool A defending champions England and South Africa have been joined by Samoa and the USA with one side set to join them from the repechage rounds.

Australia and Wales have been joined in Pool B by Fiji and Canada with the winner of Asia's upcoming round-robin between Japan, Korea and Hong Kong to join them.

In Pool C Italy and Romania join New Zealand and Scotland with one more side to come from the repechage, while arguably the toughest pool of all, D, still awaits two teams. France, Ireland and Argentina will be joined by Europe 3 and the winner of the two-leg African final between Morocco and Namibia.

RWC'07 Pools:

Pool A: England, South Africa, Samoa, USA, Repechage 2
Pool B: Australia, Wales, Fiji, Canada, Asia 1
Pool C: New Zealand, Scotland, Italy, Romania, Repechage 1
Pool D: France, Ireland, Argentina, Europe 3, Africa 1