Namibia beat Kenya to earn World Cup spot

Namibia are headed to the World Cup for the sixth consecutive time after defeating Kenya 53-28 at Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday. The result secures their position at the top of the table in the Rugby Africa Gold Cup and their status as Africa 1 representatives at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

An early penalty from Cliven Loubser got Namibia off to a good start but it was Kenya with the first try. World Sevens Series star Willy Ambaka provided the extra man to slide into the left corner. Isaac Adimo connected from the sideline with the conversion to give the Simbas a 7-3 lead.

That would be Kenya’s only lead of the game. After sustained pressure Chrysander Botha’s long arm reached the line with Loubser on song with the conversion. Another seven-pointer came just a couple minutes later when Louis van der Westhuizen smashed over from close range after Kenya made a hash of the restart.

A third try to the Welwitchias came before the break. Peter Kilonzo broke through the line and it looked as though Kenya might score, but Namibia won a turnover at the breakdown and went 70 metres on the counter-attack with Loubser sliding over for the finish.

The second half started poorly for the Simbas. van der Westhuizen had his double after the restart was again bobbled. Kenya were now well and truly beaten but they did not give up. Ambaka scored his second with a nice finish after a chip ahead from Adimo bounced kindly. Namibia replied immediately after regaining possession from the restart and Mahepisa Tjeriko charged over for try number five.

Ambaka would find himself in the bin for tackling Loubser off the ball with a try likely to be scored, the referee dutifully awarding the penalty try. With a man down it was Kenya, however, who would find the line with Malcolm Onsando on hand to take the offload from Darwin Mukidza.

Botha got his double, a free pass from Janco Venter after the big blindside had picked up a loose ball and run half the field untouched. Replacement scrumhalf Mohammed Omollo grabbed a consolation reply for Kenya but the game was done and dusted.

Namibia will play in Pool B at the World Cup along with New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, and the winner of the Repechage tournament in November. Kenya will now enter that last-gasp round-robin with Hong Kong, Germany, and Canada their opposition for the final spot at RWC 2019.

 

SCORING

NAMIBIA 53
Tries – C. Botha 2 (22’, 70’), L. van der Westhuizen 2 (26’, 41’), C. Loubser (34’), M. Tjeriko (56’), Penalty try (61’)
Cons – C. Loubser 5/6 (23’, 27’, 42’, 57’, 71’)
Pens – C. Loubser 2/2 (4’, 52’)

KENYA 28
Tries – W. Ambaka 2 (13’, 54’), M. Onsando (64’), M. Omollo (74’)
Cons – I. Adimo 1/1 (14’), D. Mukidza 3/3 (55’, 65’, 74’)
Pens – D. Mukidza 0/1
Yellow cards – W. Ambaka (61’)

 

TEAMS

NAMIBIA
1 Casper Viviers, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 4 Mahepisa Tjeriko, 5 Tjiuee Uanivi, 6 Wian Conradie, 7 Janco Venter, 8 PJ van Lill, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 10 Cliven Loubser, 11 JC Greyling, 12 Darryl de la Harpe, 13 Johan Deysel (capt.), 14 Johann Tromp, 15 Chrysander Botha

Replacements: 16 Orbert Nortje, 17 AJ de Klerk, 18 Nelius Theron, 19 Max Katjijeko, 20 Adriaan Booysen, 21 Damian Stevens, 22 PW Steenkamp, 23 Justin Newman

KENYA
1 Patrick Ouko, 2 Colman Were, 3 Joseph Odero, 4 Andrew Chogo, 5 Oliver Mang’eni, 6 George Nyambua, 7 Elkeans Musonye, 8 Davis Chenge (capt.), 9 Samson Onsomu, 10 Isaac Adimo, 11 Jacob Ojee, 12 Darwin Mukidza, 13 Peter Kilonzo, 14 Willy Ambaka, 15 Tony Onyango

Replacements: 16 Peter Karia, 17 Moses Amusala, 18 Curtis Lilako, 19 Malcolm Onsando, 20 Martin Owilah, 21 Mohammed Omollo, 22 Felix Ayange, 23 Dalmus Chituyi

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Egon Seconds (SARU)