Epic final battle awaits
Namibia will clash with Kenya this coming Saturday for a place in the 2019 Japan Rugby World Cup.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
Kenya ran in eleven tries to crush Tunisia 67-0 this past Saturday in their penultimate game of the Africa Gold Cup, which also doubles as the 2019 World Cup qualifying tournament.
This set up winner-takes-all showdown against Namibia this coming weekend.
Debutant Willy Ambaka made the perfect transition from sevens to the traditional form of the game, when he put Kenya ahead with the first try after only four minutes of play against Tunisia.
The winger picked up a loose ball in the middle of the Tunisian defence to open the scoring for the Simbas, who are set play Namibia in the tournament decider this coming Saturday.
Kenyan coach Ian Snook said he plans to make a few changes to the team for the final match.
“The result against Tunisia was good. But we need a lot of things to be fixed before we play Namibia. Tactically there will be changes to the team,” said Snook.
After a scrappy opening 20 minutes, punctuated by handling errors and poor passes, Kenya outclassed an injury-weakened Tunisian side, taking part in the tournament for the first time.
Tries from skipper Davis Chenge, Andrew Chogo, Jacob Ojee, Elkean Musonye and Darwin Mukidza and five conversions from the golden boot of Mukidza combined to give the home side a commanding 40-0 halftime lead.
Martin Owila scored the seventh try straight from the kickoff to stretch the Kenyan lead, before the home side were reduced to 14 men after Hillary Mwanjilwa was yellow-carded.
Tunisia also had two players sent to the sin bin and could not resist the Kenyan pressure.
Owila, who earned the man of the match accolade for his performance, as well as Peter Kaaria, Mohammed Omolo and Ambaka added tries to complete the rout.
Kenya picked up the maximum five points to stay second in the African qualifying group on 17 points, three behind Namibia. The winner gains an automatic place in the Japan World Cup next year, while the second-placed team plays a Repechage tournament with Canada, Germany and Hong Kong in Marseille between November 11 and 23,
Namibia is favoured to win the match against Kenya, as they have not lost a game so far in the Africa Gold Cup. They top the log, followed by Kenya, Uganda, Tunisia, Zimbabwe and Morocco.
Rugby supporter David van Wyk said the match will be exciting to watch, as it gives the Namibian team a chance to represent the country at the World Cup for the sixth straight tournament
He, however, urged the players to be wary of Kenya and to defend and attack as one.
Van Wyk also encouraged local supporters to fill up the Hage Geingob Stadium on Saturday.
In the other match over the past weekend in Kampala, strong finishes in each half earned Uganda a 47-29 victory over Morocco. This ensured the hosts of top-tier African rugby status next season.
-Additional info by NAMPA/AFP
Kenya ran in eleven tries to crush Tunisia 67-0 this past Saturday in their penultimate game of the Africa Gold Cup, which also doubles as the 2019 World Cup qualifying tournament.
This set up winner-takes-all showdown against Namibia this coming weekend.
Debutant Willy Ambaka made the perfect transition from sevens to the traditional form of the game, when he put Kenya ahead with the first try after only four minutes of play against Tunisia.
The winger picked up a loose ball in the middle of the Tunisian defence to open the scoring for the Simbas, who are set play Namibia in the tournament decider this coming Saturday.
Kenyan coach Ian Snook said he plans to make a few changes to the team for the final match.
“The result against Tunisia was good. But we need a lot of things to be fixed before we play Namibia. Tactically there will be changes to the team,” said Snook.
After a scrappy opening 20 minutes, punctuated by handling errors and poor passes, Kenya outclassed an injury-weakened Tunisian side, taking part in the tournament for the first time.
Tries from skipper Davis Chenge, Andrew Chogo, Jacob Ojee, Elkean Musonye and Darwin Mukidza and five conversions from the golden boot of Mukidza combined to give the home side a commanding 40-0 halftime lead.
Martin Owila scored the seventh try straight from the kickoff to stretch the Kenyan lead, before the home side were reduced to 14 men after Hillary Mwanjilwa was yellow-carded.
Tunisia also had two players sent to the sin bin and could not resist the Kenyan pressure.
Owila, who earned the man of the match accolade for his performance, as well as Peter Kaaria, Mohammed Omolo and Ambaka added tries to complete the rout.
Kenya picked up the maximum five points to stay second in the African qualifying group on 17 points, three behind Namibia. The winner gains an automatic place in the Japan World Cup next year, while the second-placed team plays a Repechage tournament with Canada, Germany and Hong Kong in Marseille between November 11 and 23,
Namibia is favoured to win the match against Kenya, as they have not lost a game so far in the Africa Gold Cup. They top the log, followed by Kenya, Uganda, Tunisia, Zimbabwe and Morocco.
Rugby supporter David van Wyk said the match will be exciting to watch, as it gives the Namibian team a chance to represent the country at the World Cup for the sixth straight tournament
He, however, urged the players to be wary of Kenya and to defend and attack as one.
Van Wyk also encouraged local supporters to fill up the Hage Geingob Stadium on Saturday.
In the other match over the past weekend in Kampala, strong finishes in each half earned Uganda a 47-29 victory over Morocco. This ensured the hosts of top-tier African rugby status next season.
-Additional info by NAMPA/AFP
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