By Gary Anderson

September 7 - Kazakhstan won the 2014 WRWC Asian qualifier defeating Japan in AlmatyWith just under 11 months to go until the start of the 2014 International Rugby Board (IRB) Women's Rugby World Cup, South Africa and Kazakhstan claimed the final two spots for the showpiece event in France.

With ten of the twelve teams already qualified, today saw the African and Asian representatives decided and it was the Springboks and the Kazakhs who booked their places on the plane to France for the tournament which is due to take place between August 1 and 17.

The South African women cruised through the African decider at the Buffalo City Municipal Stadium in East London against a Uganda side who had no answer to the power and pace of the home side.

The signs were ominous for the Ugandans early on as Mathrin Simmers crossed the line inside 10 minutes to give her side the perfect start.

The Springboks did not look back from then on, as Marlien Cronje, Dolly Mavumengwana, Zandile Nojoko and Zenay Jordaan all crossed the white line to give South Africa a commanding 29-0 lead at half-time.

The Ugandan cause was not helped by a yellow card for Evenlyne Aweku, as the frustration began to show in the visitors' play.

The second half traffic followed the same route as the first as Nojoko, Natasha Hofmeester and two tries from debutant Asithandile Ntoyanto put the match well and truly to bed, before Nwabisa Ngxatu and Cronje again saw South Africa record their biggest ever win and qualify for their third World Cup on a score of 63-3.

The South African women's rugby side will have to get the blazers on again for the 2014 WRWC team photo after winning the African qualifierThe South African women's rugby side will have to get the blazers on again for the 2014 WRWC team photo after winning the African qualifier

























It could not have been more different in Almaty, as Kazahkstan and Japan played out a thriller in the Asian qualifier, with a late conversion miss by the visitors seeing the home side scrape through by 25-23.

The Japanese women will be hugely disappointed at missing out on a World Cup berth considering they made an impressive start to the game which saw them lead 15-3 thanks to two penalties and a conversion which added to Marie Yamaguchi's opening try.

However, a crucial score from outside centre Lyudmila Sherer kept the hosts within striking distance at the break on a score of 15-10.

The Kazakhs emerged for the second half determined to make home advantage count and that is exactly what they did as they stormed into the lead with tries from Sherer again and captain Anna Yakovleva, turning the game completely on its head.

Two tries from Lyudmila Sherer helped see the Kazakhstan women over the line against Japan in the Asian 2014 WRWC qualifierTwo tries from Lyudmila Sherer helped see the Kazakhstan women over the line against Japan in the Asian 2014 WRWC qualifier




























































But the Japanese were not finished yet.

Helped by a yellow card for double try scorer Sherer, the visitors piled on the pressure in desperate search of a try and they eventually breached the scrambling Kazakhstan defence to leave them needing a conversion to tie the game.

It was not to be, though, as the kick fell agonisingly short of the posts to cue ecstatic home celebrations.

The South Africans and Kazakhs now join defending champions New Zealand, 2010 runners-up England, Australia, hosts France, the United States, Canada, 2013 Grand Slam winners Ireland, Spain, Samoa and Wales at next year's World Cup, the seventh staging of the event.

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