Kenya inch closer to 15s rugby World Cup

By BS MULAVI

Kenya secured their spot in Division 1A of the Confederation of African Rugby tournament with an emphatic 52-11 victory over Uganda in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

The win means Kenya qualifies for the final on Sunday and hence are guaranteed to be one of the top two teams in the continent.

The fourth-placed team, to be relegated, will be determined when Uganda play the loser of Zimbabwe-Madagascar tie for the third and fourth playoff, also on Sunday.

It was imperative that Kenya remains in the top tier 1A to stand a chance of making it to the Fifteens Rugby World Cup in England in 2015. The winner of next year’s tournament will automatically qualify alongside South Africa to the global 15s showpiece.

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“We stuck to our structures. The boys were ready to defend their pride and that is what they did. We came into this match having rectified all the mistakes from our previous encounter against Uganda,” team manager Wangila Simiyu told FeverPitch on phone from Madagascar, on Wednesday.

“While Captain Wilson Kopondo and Joshua Chisanga were outstanding, I must commend the side under the stewardship of Jerome Paarwater, they played their hearts out. We are now done with this match and look forward to Sunday’s encounter. We will carry the Kenyan flag high,” Wangila added.

Scrum half Edwin Achayo, who scored two tries, was one of eight try scorers on the day for the Rugby Lions.

Joshua Chisanga, who was voted man of the man, touched down once.

Touched down

Team captain Wilson Kopondo also touched down once alongside Oliver Mang’eni, Brian Nyikuli, Andrew Amonde and Cyprian Kuto. Kenny Andola managed two conversions with Fabian Olando adding a third conversion. Isaac Adimo added two penalties for Kenya.

The team confirmed what Wangila had told FeverPitch on Wednesday. The team manager said the team was prepared to take on Uganda after taking care of past mistakes done in the Elgon Cup.

Kenya had lost on home ground but went on to recover in the return fixture in Kampala.

The massive score is sure to lift the team’s morale ahead of the finals, which if they win, they get a chance to host next year’s tournament and in turn enhance their chances of making it to the World Cup.

All focus has shifted to the team as they seek to emulate their sevens counterparts who are now ranked fourth in the world after the Sevens World Cup in Moscow.