Simbas left with three Currie Cup matches ahead of Africa’s event
Kenya Simbas are now three matches away from completing their Currie Cup first division experience that is aimed at preparing the Kenya 15s side for the Rugby Africa Cup 2022.
The event will also be the final round of Rugby World Cup 2022 Africa regional qualifiers to be held in France from July 1-10.
The three matches will wrap up the rounds to leave the top four African sides to battle for the sole ticket to the premier division.
Simbas will face fifth-placed SWD Eagles this weekend before returning to host two Currie Cup fixtures against South African sides, Leopards and Elephants on home soil this coming month.
Last weekend, Simbas own undoing was headlined by costly errors to deny Kenya a second win in the competition. Kenya is perched ninth in the 10-team competition after losing 45-33 to Boland Kavaliers.
Despite the loss, Kenya picked a crucial losing bonus that has opened up an eight-point gap between Kenya and the bottom-placed Border Bulldogs.
This weekend, Simbas will meet the Eagles at the City Park Stadium in Athlone, South Africa and on June fourth the team will have a great opportunity at trading places with eighth-placed Leopards who are also struggling despite collecting two wins in their five meetings.
After the first clash to be hosted at the RFUEA grounds, Simbas will later host second-placed Eastern Province Elephants on June 11. The Elephants will be seeking to finish the rounds perched first for the honour to meet the fourth-placed side during the playoffs on June 18.
Home advantage
This weekend, the top two sides will clash for the top seat at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. The Eastern Province side will have the home advantage against the sole unbeaten side – Griffons on a 30-point lead with a four-point gap.
Last weekend, after a faulty start, Simbas made an early comeback to lead the Boland Kavaliers 19-14 but a sin bin imposed on Samuel Asati allowed rivals to level the scores shortly before halftime (19-19).
Boland’s attacking backline carried the day as they returned to test Simbas’ defence to the limits to grab and extend their lead to 45-33 at full-time.
Simbas immediate log rivals are tied on 12 points and the two – Zimbabwe Goshawks and Leopards will meet this Saturday in a match that could allow Kenya to catch up with the loser of that match in case Paul Odera’s charges will be triumphant against the Eagles this weekend.
