Kenya Under-20 rugby team coach Curtis Olago insists the team has made tremendous progress in the ongoing World Rugby Trophy despite bowing out of contention.
He, however, noted that recurring mistakes and conceding late tries in the second half made their outing very difficult, resulting in poor results.
Chipu finished third in Pool 'B' after a 22-16 triumph against Hong Kong in their final group match on Tuesday at Nyayo Stadium.
“Both defensive and attacking structures were meticulously honed, leading to commendable performances throughout the tournament. However, a recurring issue of crumbling in the second half and conceding late tries really haunted us in past encounters,” said Olago.
“We took charge early in all our games, scoring first in all the matches. Our vulnerability against physically and skillfully adept opponents made sustaining early leads a challenging feat,” added Olago, who also serves as Simbas' assistant coach.
Against Hong Kong, Mike Oduor scored a try in each half, in addition to Jackton Omondi's bullish try for the victory.
Captain Michael Wamalwa's expressed gratitude for their first victory in the tournament, acknowledging that constant improvement in each game was the key to their triumph.
“Each match provided invaluable exposure as the team grew and learned to meet the demands of this elite level of rugby,” said Wamalwa.
Wamalwa acknowledged that such tough encounters would be crucial in their journey toward further improvement.
“Our newfound defensive sharpness has fortified our resolve to confront Zimbabwe, as we seek redemption from our previous encounter in the Barthes Cup final, where our poor defence proved costly,” added the KCB center.
Chipu will face Zimbabwe on Sunday in the 5th place playoff.
