Kenya out to beat Tunisia to restore Rugby World Cup hopes

Source: Xinhua| 2017-07-04 03:44:28|Editor: Zhou Xin
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NAIROBI, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is targeting to beat Tunisia on Saturday at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi to resurrect their hopes of clinching qualification for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The national rugby 15s team started their 2017 Africa Gold Cup continental campaign on a stutter after being held to a 33-33 draw by neighbours Uganda on Jun. 24 and host a Tunisian side stung by a crushing 53-7 mauling to Namibia.

South Africa head coach, Jerome Paarwater, will name his side to take on the Tunisians on Thursday after castigating the team known as Simba XVs for slack defending that saw them salvage a draw against Uganda at the death in their Gold Cup opener.

The remodelled Gold Cup (formerly known as Africa Division 1A) will act as a qualifier to next year's Rugby World Cup that will be held in Japan from Sept. 20 to Nov. 2 with Kenya aiming to make the tournament for the first time in history.

Uganda top the Gold Cup standing after edging Senegal 17-16 away last weekend on six points, one above defending champions and favourites Namibia.

Zimbabwe (four) who opened their campaign with a 28-16 away victory in Senegal are third ahead of Kenya who collected two from the home draw.

French national Tual Trainini will be the referee in charge when Kenya and Tunisia lock horns at the RFUEA Grounds.

The 32-year-old has vast experience from officiating in the French Top 14 and various European competitions and will be assisted by the Zimbabwean duo of Precious Pazani and Julian Mundandawara.

Joseph Ingwe also from Zimbabwe will be the citing officer for this fixture.

Kenya and Tunisia have met eight times before with the hosts shading the head to head record 5-3.

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