Relief for Simbas as Kubu is passed fit for crucial Rugby Africa Cup

The national rugby 15s side, Kenya Simbas, can breathe a little easily after top scoring full back Jone Kubu was declared fully fit to face Zambia in a do or die pool B Rugby Africa Cup encounter taking place at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

After a sensational debut for Kenya in the opening match where Kubu scored fourteen points in Simbas’ upsetting 19-20 loss to Senegal, the Kabras Sugar player picked up an injury and was stretchered off with six minutes left on the clock, sending shivers down Kenyan’s rugby lovers. That scare now seems to be a thing of the past as the Fijian was included in the Simbas’ starting squad that is set to face the Zambians in the deciding match.

For Kenya to keep alive their hopes of gracing the 2023 Rugby World Cup set for France for a first time in history, the Paul Odera- coached side need to defeat Zambia in order to finish second in pool B and qualify for the 2022 Rugby Africa Cup which serves as the 2023 World Cup African qualifying tournament.

Ahead of the important crunch match, head coach Odera has made six changes to the squad that started last weekends’s game against Senegal.

Ian Njenga, debutant Eugene Sifuna, Emmanuel Silungi, George Nyambua, Dominic Coulson and Samuel Asati are included in the starting fifteen while Griffin Musila, Andrew Siminyu, Bryceson Adaka and Thomas Okeyo start from the bench. Stephen Sakari and John Okoth do not make the match day 23 through injury.

There are also positional changes for the Simbas with Kubu starting at flyhalf, swapping places with Charles Kuka who is moved to fullback as Samuel Asati, whose first two caps for Kenya have come from the scrum position will start this clash at outside center. Davis Chenge who started last weekend’s game in the second row is deployed to the blindside while Joshua Chisanga reverts to the number eight slot.

Full Simbas Squad

1.Ian Njenga (Nondescripts – 3 caps)2. Eugene Sifuna (Kabras Sugar- debut),3. Ephraim Oduor (Kabras Sugar – 7 caps),4. Emmanuel Silungi (Homeboyz – 5 caps),5. George Nyambua (Kabras Sugar – 23 caps),6. Davis Chenge (KCB – 27 caps) ,7. Daniel Sikuta (Kabras Sugar, Co-Captain – 16 caps),8. Joshua Chisanga (Kenya Harlequin – 32 caps),9. Samson Onsomu ( Impala Saracens, Captain – 28 caps),10. Jone Kubu (Kabras Sugar – 1 cap),11. Brian Tanga (Kabras Sugar – 1 cap),12. Dominic Coulson (University of Exeter – 2 caps),13. Samuel Asati (KCB – 2 caps),14. Darwin Mukidza (KCB – 39 caps),15. Charles Kuka (Mwamba -7 caps) REPLACEMENTS 16. Griffin Musila (KCB – 6 caps), 17. Andrew Siminyu (University of Johannesburg- 1 caps),18. Patrick Ouko (KCB – 15 caps),19. Thomas Okeyo (Top Fry Nakuru – 1 cap),20. Elkeans Musonye (Impala Saracens – 17 caps),21. Barry Robinson (Kabras Sugar- debut),22. Bryceson Adaka (Kabras Sugar – 1 cap), 23.Isaac Njoroge (KCB – 5 caps)