SIMBAS CLAW SPAIN: 15s team now aiming even higher

RUGBY KENYA VS SPAIN -KRFU GROUND Kenya players celebrates after beating Spain 36-27 during their Rugby test match at KRFU ground in Nairobi on Saturday 18/07/15.PHOTO:BONIFACE OKENDO

“What makes you think that we can’t beat England, or New Zealand when they come to Kenya?”

Those were the words of Wangila Simiyu, the Kenya national 15s rugby team manager after his side beat Spain 36-27 in an international friendly at the RFUEA grounds yesterday evening.

In the close encounter, Kenya emerged victorious after scoring five tries. According to Simiyu, the result was a testament that the team has potential.

“When we beat Portugal, people said it was a fluke, when we beat Tunisia, many still doubted, but with today’s victory, we have proved our critics wrong and I hope they will cross over to help move rugby to the next level,” Simiyu said.

He could not hide his joy over the victory, but could also not fail to acknowledge how close the game was.

“It was a hard-earned victory, but we did it,” he said. “We put in the work as a team and we got the final result.”

Kenya enjoyed the lead for long periods, but Spain were always just a try away. The Europeans clearly had an advantage in the set pieces and scored three tries from the same, but Kenya enjoyed the open play and made the most of the home support from capacity crowd.

Even Santiago Santos, the Spain coach acknowledged after the loss that Kenya were lethal with the ball in hand and rued the mistakes that lead to his side giving away possession or chances.

His sentiments were shared by his captain Jesus Recuerda who said they were a bit scrappy, having just returned from a holiday, and that could have led to their mistakes.

Simiyu claimed they lost their structure a bit as the game progressed, but the substitutions they made led to the close victory that might just propel them up World Rugby International rankings.

Santos said they are not too worried of falling in their ranking. “We came into this game at number 19, and I don’t think we will fall too far.”

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