Rugby World Cup Q: Kenya into finals after edging Algeria in nail-biting encounter

Kenya Simbas punched a ticket to the final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifiers after an edge-of-your-seat 36-33 victory over Algeria on Wednesday 6 July at the Stade Delort in Marseille, France.

From the onset, Kenya breathed a huge sigh of relief after a horrendous start to the game that saw Algeria catch them napping to touch down in the opening 15 seconds of the encounter but the try was chalked off after the ball bounced on the line from kickoff.

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Simbas were on the back foot in the opening five minutes as Algeria made their early dominance count when their quick hands and impeccable handling birthed the first try of the game with Marvyn Youcef crossing the whitewash.

Paul Odera’s charges needed only seven minutes to conjure up a response when Samuel Asati who was named Man of the Match in the Quarter Finals win over Uganda found John Okoth who ploughed through to register Kenya’s first try with Darwin Mukidza adding the extras to level the game.

Algeria restored their seven-point advantage courtesy of a well-worked maul from a line out whose momentum proved too strong for the Simbas with Ishram Hamel touching down the ball in the sea of bodies.

Kenya turned defense into attack with a lightning-quick counterattack from an overcooked line out by Eugene Sifuna with Bethwel Anami picking up the kind bounce and gained some meters before his kick found John Okoth for his second of the day and fourth in the qualifiers to extend his red hot form.

After some patient build-up by Kenya, KCB fullback Darwin Mukidza leaped into the try box to touch down after Kenya successfully recycled possession and he went on to convert the try to ensure Simbas led for the first time in the game and went into the halftime break leading 21-14.

Algeria had a mirror start to the opening half as they needed just four minutes to restore parity courtesy of a powerful maul with Ishram Hamel getting his second of the game and they added the extras to tie the game 21-21.

Kenya however wasted no time in regaining their lead through the boot of Fijian-born Jone Kubu who came on as a substitute in the second half as he drilled in three points with Eugene Sifuna handing Simbas some breathing space with a try after bulldozing his way past the Algeria defense with Kubu again adding the extras for a 31-21.

The see-saw game saw Algeria reduce the deficit to five points from an unforced error straight from the restart as Simbas again fumbled the line out which allowed the North Africans to grab a try which they failed to convert.

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Kenya’s 10-point buffer was restored when Bryceson Adaka who was drafted into the squad to replace the injured Vincent Onyala touched down but Kubu this time missed the conversion.

Algeria ensured a tense finale as they were awarded a penalty try from another one of their powerful mauls that Kenya were struggling to find answers for.

Simbas sturdy defense withered a late Algeria storm to hold on to a 36-33 victory.