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Chipu kept a physically-imposing Spain at bay in the first half, but capitulated dramatically in the second half in their Pool B clash.
The Kenya u20 15s side's hopes of winning a maiden World u20 Trophy at their home turf were dashed in humiliating version, as they ran out 48-18 in their Pool B clash agaisnt Spain at the Nyayo National Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
After witnessing what was a fairly even first half between both sides, with the scores at 17-15, Chipu capitulated in the second half 48-18, effectively ending their hopes of lifting the trophy with a game to spare.
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18:05 - 20.07.2023
RUGBY Kenya knocked out of World Rugby U20 Trophy title contention following Spain loss
In the seventh minute, Chipu scored a try courtesy of George Otieno as Faran Juma successfully converted to place Kenya seven points ahead of Spain.
Kenya barely got a sniff in the second half, as they played practically with their backs towards the wall, enduring a battering that left fans who had been ecstatic in the first half in somber moods in the stand in the second half.
“It was a good game especially in the first half where we had it, but we crumbled in the second half and that is because of the rules of the game, when we are supposed to exit -the type of exit-, we just went under the pump immediately, but it happens,” Chippu head coach Olago said.
“They kept us under pressure in our first fifteen. We kept on making mistakes when we needed to exit. That kind of pressure tires you down. You cannot really do much. Basically, our mistakes put us under pressure.”
Captain Michael Wamalwa described the second half capitulation as “tough luck”, but shared in his coach’s sentiments on their exit kicks being below par.
“It was tough luck. Things didn't work out well especially with our exit kicks but it is life. We will focus on our game against Hong Kong."
Spain coach Javier Garrido revealed the reason his side became dominant in the second half, making it practically a one-sided affair.
“We had a hard game against Kenya. It is a good team. The first half was hard for us. Kenya put all their energy against us in the first half, but the boys worked hard to stay in the game,” Garrido said.
The tactician has revealed that Spain decided to use the ball much better in the second half by being more patient with it, something the Kenyans could not cope with.
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“Kenya was playing much better than us because the rhythm of the game favored them. In the second half, we decided to keep the ball and use it more patiently while making sure not to avoid mistakes in our last pass.
Spain scrum half Paulo Perez admitted that Kenya was “difficult” to play against at the beginning, but opting to revert to their typical patient passing game got them the result.
“ It was difficult at the beginning. Kenya was physical and played so well, but at least we played our game and won in the second half,” Perez said.
“In the second half, we wanted to play our game, keep our system, which is the thing that made us win this game.”
Spain will face Samoa in the final match on Tuesday at the same venue hoping to secure first place, while Kenya will face Hong Kong to stand a chance of securing a fifth place finish.
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