)
Kenya have drawn confidence from their great display against Welwitchsias which saw them rise to sixth on the log
Kenya Simbas will be seeking to climb higher up the Mzanzi Challenge table when they face Zimbabwe Goshawks this weekend.
Simbas rose to eighth after collecting two points following their 35-28 defeat to Welwitchsias last weekend to take their tally to seven points from one win and five losses from their 6 outings.
The Welwitschias seemed to be cruising to a comfortable win when they took a 21-0 lead after barely 15 minutes, but the Simbas produced a great comeback to draw level at 28-28, before Johan Luttig’s late try sealed the match for the home side.
It is that great display that Jerome Paarwater’s charges will be banking on against the Zimbabwean side as they seek more positive results from their tour of Southern Africa which has offered them plenty of lessons.
Simbas will be encouraged by the words of Welwitschias’ defence coach Allistair Coetzee who lauded them for giving his side a good game, despite the hosts having a lot more quality.
“It was a very entertaining match I must say and I want to give credit to Kenya for coming back,” Coetzee said, as per KRU Media.
“We got off to a very good start leading 21-0 early on, but little things counted against us. We conceded unnecessary penalties and we were not accurate enough in our set-pieces, so we couldn’t build on the 21-point lead that we had, and we let the Kenyans back into the game.
“We have had some close defeats in this tournament to date, but this time we got out of jail with a win, which is good for the confidence going forward, so I’m really pleased.”
Having run the Welwitschias close, Simbas head into Saturday’s match high on confidence given they have come a log way since their opening match when they lost 32-22 to San Clemente Rhinos before falling 18-7 to Eastern Province Elephants, both from South Africa, last month.
They would secure their first win this month by beating another South African side Boarder Bulldogs 30-26 before the narrow loss to the Welwitschias.
Kenya, who narrowly missed out on a ticket to the 2023 Rugby World Cup to Namibia at the 2022 Rugby Africa Cup, before falling off in the Repechage, are looking to begin early preparations for the 2027 tournament and are using the Mzansi Challenge as part of the build-up.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)