Rugby World Cup: one game away

Members of the National 15 a side rugby team during the high altitude training at the Nanyuki Sports Club. June 22, the team jets out on Thursday to Madagascar for the 2015 World Cup Qualifiers. PHOTO:SAMI MOSE

The National 15s team are on the verge of history as they take on Zimbabwe at 1pm today for the final fixture of the Confederation of African Rugby.

The tournament doubles as the World Cup qualifier for the African region and hence the winners will be crowned African champions and will get to represent Africa in the World Cup in England in 2015.

Kenya are currently the leaders in the tournament having won both their games against Namibia 29-22 and hosts Madagsacar 34-0.

Only Zimbabwe now stand on their way in what might be the most important game in the tournament.

Zimbabwe and Namibia still stand a chance of qualifying, depending on the margin of their wins today, but that is only if Kenya lose.

Kenya only have to draw if they are to qualify and hence they have been branded favourites of the tournament, especially given that they are the reigning African champions.

Kenya head coach Jerome Parwaater fielded two different sides for the games against Namibia and Madagascar in a move to keep the players fresh and to also keep the opposition guessing as to what set of players will start.

NATIONAL UNITY

Speaking after their victory over Madagascar on Wednesday, Jerome claimed that even though they only need to draw to guarantee qualification, they will still play at their best to ensure that they get the victory and they qualify as the top side in Africa.

“We are playing for the people back in Kenya. We want people to have some joy,” he said.

The national 15s team have claimed that they want to play for all Kenyans and the victory will discriminate against any tribe; a move that they hope will unite the nation at a time when the political environment is considered relatively volatile.

Speaking from Madagascar, former Kenya Sevens captain, Humphrey Kayange, who is also on the team said, “Qualifying would mean an awful lot to Kenya, the team and our fans, who are amazing. It would be like a dream come true to play New Zealand in the Pool stages and face the Haka – it is something that we dream about.”

“We have come close a couple of times in the past, but we came into this tournament aiming to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2015 and we have the chance to do that on Sunday,” he added.

“We played well in the first two games, getting two wins, which puts us in a good position heading into the final round of matches,” he said.

“Zimbabwe are a big team who will come at us hard and the key for us is composure, to keep focused and to ensure that we get the points that we require.”