In their opening Rugby Africa Cup fixtures, the Kenya Simbas technical staff went for consistency, almost naming the same squad twice, bar for Derrick Ashiundu in the second game.
The winger returns, alongside Jone Kubu, as the only two players who started against the Zimbabwe Sables, with the bench featuring a host of starters from the past two games.
Even though this game isn’t of much significance to the Simbas in this World Cup qualifying window, it is still important not only to finish on a high note but also to provide much-needed game time to their wider playing squad for the tournament.
This 3rd place playoff is a repeat of the last Rugby Africa Cup semifinal between Kenya and Algeria, where the Simbas succumbed to the lethal boot of Julien Caminati, ending the game 20:12 for the Lion Cubs.
The Starting 15 is mostly comprised of former finishers from the bench like the front row trio of Edward Mwaura, Teddy Akala, Vincent Mwikhali who start alongside fellow bomb squad members; Hibrahim Ayoo, David Banduki and Obat Kule, while Elkeans Musonye, who makes his first appearance as captain, is joined by Emmanuel Silunga in the forwards.
Samuel Ovwamu finally makes his Simbas debut at center, while Brian Wahinya makes it to the match day squad for the first time in the tournament. Brian Tanga and John Okoth start their first game, while Timothy Omela is back in the squad after the omission against Zimbabwe.
The Simbas are saving the best for last, with a stacked bench of players who have started and heavily featured in the tournament so far, indicating a desire to finish as strong as they start, as they exert sweet revenge on the Algerians for that painful semifinal loss from last year.
Starting XV: Edward Mwaura, Teddy Akala, Vincent Mwikhali, Emmanuel Silunga, Hibrahim Ayoo, David Banduki, Obat Kule, Elkeans Musonye, Brian Tanga, Brian Wahinya, Derrick Ashiundu, Samuel Ovwamu, John Okoth, Timothy Omela, Jone Kubu.
Substitutes: Eugene Sifuna, Ephraim Oduor, Wilhite Mususi, Andycole Omolo, Thomas Okeyo, Samuel Asati, Barry Young, Walter Okoth