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Kenya Simbas head coach blames gusty conditions in draw against SWD Eagles
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 05.06.25. | 16:32
The training match, played under cold, rainy, and windy weather, marked a notable improvement from their previous 2022 meeting, where the Simbas fell 24-7 to the same opponents
The national men's 15s rugby team, Kenya Simbas, kicked off their South African tour with a hard-fought 17-17 draw against SWD Eagles on Tuesday, 3 June in Mossel Bay.
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The training match, played under cold, rainy, and windy weather, marked a notable improvement from their previous 2022 meeting, where the Simbas fell 24-7 to the same opponents.
This time, it took the full depth of the 30-man squad to grind out a result, with the team showcasing flashes of their evolving structure and determination.
Kenya struck first through debutant Samuel Ovwamu, who dotted down before Brian Wahinya slotted the conversion to hand the visitors a 7-5 lead.
SWD Eagles quickly responded with a converted try of their own, turning the tide at 12-7, but a well-coordinated rolling maul from a lineout allowed captain Griffin Musila to level the scores before halftime.
The second half mirrored the first in intensity. The Eagles edged ahead with an unconverted try, but the Simbas rallied once more, this time through forward Ibrahim Ayoo, whose try sealed the stalemate.
Simbas head coach Jerome Paarwater was pleased with the effort and attitude, though he lamented the limitations imposed by the weather and an unexpected shift in match conditions.
“There were very bad weather conditions at Mossel Bay, and after around 20 minutes, SWD Eagles went uncontested in the scrums for safety following an injury.
This took a lot from us in terms of our attacking platforms and how we want to play as Simbas,” Paarwater offered.
With scrums removed from the contest, the team leaned heavily on their lineout mauls. That was the only consistent set piece they could work with on the night.
Despite several attacking opportunities, slippery handling under the wet conditions saw the Simbas squander promising chances.
“We are just happy with the game time. The boys tried to stick to the structure we had put in place. We need to adapt to the cold, rainy, and windy weather as we continue with our preparations,” he averred.
The Simbas now shift their focus to a clash against the South Africa U20 side scheduled for Monday, 9 June in Stellenbosch. They will face the same opponents again five days later, on Saturday, 14 June.
“We look forward to the next challenge on Monday with the SA U20 as we are still testing our combinations to get to the starting 15,” Paarwater added.
The tour continues with matches against Sanlam Boland on Friday, 20 June in Wellington and a double-header against Limpopo on Tuesday, 24 and Thursday, 26 June.
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The South African tour is part of the Simbas’ buildup to the Rugby Africa Cup, the gateway to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
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