Kenya Simbas suffer another Rugby World Cup heartbreak
Namibia's flanker Wian Conradie (left) scores his team's second try during the Rugby Africa Cup rugby union final match against Kenya at the Maurice David Stadium in Aix-en-Provence, southeastern France, on July 10, 2022.
What you need to know:
- Namibia will now join the 16 teams that have already qualified for the 2023 World Cup to be held in France while Kenya will be hoping make it to the tournament via the repechage tournament.
Kenya Simbas suffered another heartbreak in their quest to grace the Rugby World Cup for the first time after a humiliating 36-0 loss to Namibia in the final of the African qualifiers at the Maurice David Stadium in Aix-en-Provence, Marseille on Sunday.
Namibia will now join the 16 teams that have already qualified for the 2023 World Cup to be held in France while Kenya will be hoping make it to the tournament via the repechage tournament on dates to be disclosed later by World Rugby.
Namibia's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Rugby Africa Cup rugby union final match between Namibia and Kenya at the Maurice David Stadium in Aix-en-Provence, southeastern France, on July 10, 2022.
The Namibians, who have now beaten Kenya in 12 of their 14 Tests, were 15-0 up at the break after breaking Kenya's early resistance in the game.
Back row Wian Conradie,who plays for the New England Free Jacks in the United States, touched down a hat-trick of tries, centre and skipper Johan Daysel scored Namibia's other try as fly-half Clive Loubser made two conversions and four penalties to catapult Namibia to the seventh consecutive Rugby World Cup appearance.
Namibia's players celebrate after winning the Rugby Africa Cup rugby union final match between Namibia and Kenya at the Maurice David Stadium in Aix-en-Provence, southeastern France, on July 10, 2022.
The victory saw Namibia book their place in Pool “A” at next year’s Rugby World Cup in France, alongside the hosts, New Zealand, Italy and Uruguay.
"We had a big build-up to this game," Deysel told Canal+ after victories over Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe in the quarter-finals and last four of the Africa Cup which doubled up as World Cup qualifiers.
"We knew Kenya are always tough. We had to leave everything on the field today and we did it," the centre added.
"We're not scared at all," Namibia hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld told Canal+.
"It's always an honour to play a World Cup, not every player plays at a World Cup.
"It's a very high standard. It's going to be hard but we're going to work," the 35-year-old Bayonne forward added.
Namibia also got to keep the Rugby Africa Gold Cup trophy for the exploits.
Kenya's wing Collins Injera Emonyi (right) is tackled by Namibia's fly-half Cliven Loubser during their Rugby Africa Cup rugby union final match at the Maurice David Stadium in Aix-en-Provence, southeastern France, on July 10, 2022.
Kenya showed much promise with good attack and defence to keep Namibia on toes even but lost concentration to give away possession easily.
Namibia capitalised on Kenya’s errors that included wild kicking to launch attacks, one which saw Collins Injera make a try-saving tackle by holding up a Namibian attacker.
Namibia easily secured turnovers that enabled Wian Conradie to strike for their first try before Loubster, who missed the conversion, slotted over a penalty to stretch their lead 8-0.
Namibia's flanker Wian Conradie (left) scores the opening try during the Rugby Africa Cup rugby union final match against Kenya at the Maurice David Stadium in Aix-en-Provence, southeastern France, on July 10, 2022.
Despite their good display Conradie struck again as Loubser converted to lead 15-0 at the break.
Once again, Kenya, who staged some good running play on resumption, resorted to kicking, which went deep.
Namibia's number 8 Adriaan Booysen (centre) is tackled by Kenya's full-back Darwin Mukidza Kintangi (right) during the Rugby Africa Cup rugby union final match at the Maurice David Stadium in Aix-en-Provence, southeastern France, on July 10, 2022.
It gave Namibia a good launching pad for attacks, forcing the Kenyans to commit errors in the ruck hence dishing out three consecutive penalties that Loubser curled over for a 24-0 lead.
It was thereafter that things went south for the Simbas who knocked-on several times in attack to blow away any chance of making a comeback.
The Namibians exhibited good running game as Conradie sealed his hat-trick with their skipper also getting on the scoreboard before the hooter went off.
Additional reporting by AFP
