Lionesses head coach rues costly mistakes as RWC dream is dashed

The national women’s rugby 15s head coach Felix Oloo has rued the chances missed by his team as Kenya Lionesses’ dreams of gracing the 2021 Rugby World Cup for a first time were ended by the narrowest of margins as Colombia women won 15-16 in the Repechage qualifier match held at Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Homefield advantage and a World Rugby Women's Ranking five places higher than their opponents had Kenya marked down as favourites before kick-off, but the Lionesses’ high error and penalty count, and three yellow cards ensured that it was Colombia instead of Kenya who would progress to the final qualification tournament alongside three other teams for a single World Cup slot.

Making his remarks after the match which was Lionesses’ fifth consecutive defeat this year, Oloo placed the blame on his team reading the game inappropriately, failing to convert chances and indiscipline as major reasons for the team failing to make it to the Repechage tournament.

“Colombia took their chances very well unlike us who did not take our chances. If we could have played in the right zones, I believe we should have carried the day because each and every time we were playing in the right zones we were coming out with points. But we kept insisting, playing in our own zone which really cost us and the other fact that close to thirty minutes we played with less players, at some point going down to thirteen,” the head coach said.

As a consequence of losing, Kenya dropped three places to 28th in the World Rankings as Colombia Women moved to a new record high of 26th place.