2023 Rugby World Cup: Simbas qualification would be a game changer - Odera

Kenya Simbas head coach Paul Odera opines that qualifying for the 2023 Rugby World Cup would be a big game changer for the sport, specifically the 15s in the country

The team departed for France where the qualifiers are being held in the wee hours of Wednesday morning after securing Ksh10M sponsorship from Hildana Lodge after a period a uncertainty.

There will be only one automatic qualification spot to the RWC 2023 up for grabs in France, with the losing finalist having a chance to secure their ticket through the Final Qualification Tournament.

Speaking to World Rugby, Odera said that the success of the sevens side has positioned Kenyan rugby strategically but believes a world cup for the Simba's would change much more for the better.

“I think it would change the game forever in Kenya. Not just due to the increased interest and increased financing but for the country, for the players, for the grassroots. Our sevens team has done well, and they've also commercially positioned Kenya Rugby in a good place where corporations have seen the team as an opportunity. But if the Simbas do qualify for Rugby World Cup in France next year, it will change the game forever in Kenya for the better. And I think from there, Kenya can build on this result, and we'll finally be able maybe to fulfill the potential of Kenya Rugby to compete with the elite teams in the world of rugby. So, it would be huge… I’m driven to tears when I think about what it could change,” Odera said.

Odera remains wary of the randomness that comes with knockouts as there are no second chances, noting that knockouts change the mindset completely.

However, he notes that they have been getting ready for any possible scenarios in training and says that his team has to have their foot on the pedal from the word go.

“It shifts the mindset completely because there are no second chances. Last year we got caught cold against Senegal in the first game and lost by one point, 20-19 [but] thankfully, we still had a second chance. Knockout rugby changes the mindset completely. The focus at training really has been on getting the players to do what they're meant to do the first time over. Because in knockout rugby, you have one error from the scrum-half and then maybe an error from the second-row and another error from the full-back and they all add up. If those errors are at crucial moments in the game, you can suddenly find yourselves chasing a game. Then you get under pressure and then you start making [more] errors and before you know it, the game's over and you are out of the tournament. So, we are very clear that we've got to fire on all cylinders right from the beginning of the match and for the full 80 minutes,” he added.