The Kenya sevens will be looking to make a strong finish to the 2013/14 season as they take on the last leg of the HSBC sevens series in London at the weekend. With the Common Wealth games around the corner they will be looking to lay a foundation here for the June games.
The side is currently placed 7th after picking up 12 points in the penultimate leg in Glasgow, last weekend. Taking their total after eight legs to 72 points.
In Scotland the side played some of the best rugby we have seen this season, the systems seemed to finally take shape. We were fortunate to progress to the cup quarter final after winning only one game in the pool stages against Argentina.
Two games stood out for me in Glasgow, the second match on day one, against Fiji and the second one on day two, the Plate Semi-final against South Africa. These two were a clear indication of the progress we have made since the start of the season.
The first half gainst Fiji was perhaps the best seven minutes I have seen from us this season, we were however in for a wakeup call in the second half, flickering for a moment to find ourselves out in the cold. Like Treu pointed out in one of the post-match interviews, we need a little bit more of self-belief especially in the big games.
Against South Africa that self-belief showed, as we held on to our first win against the blitz bokke this season. You might say that the South Africans were not at their best, well neither were we.
I struggle to pick a low point in Glasgow, but the Cup quarter final against Canada takes it just ahead of the Plate final loss to England and the first match against Wales. In those three matches we failed to turn up, maybe we did against Wales but then again with two minutes to go we decided to close shop.
It was exciting to see Oscar Ayodi deployed at fly half, perhaps to give Biko a deserved breather and a little to think about. Billy was devastating at the wing, Wanjala making the case for the sweepers especially in defence, and when Ayange making a statement going forward when he came on.
It was surprising to see Dennis Ombachi among the forwards, but in the company of Agunda and the work horse Horace Otieno he did well. As did Tony Owuor when called upon, it was also great to see the pairing of Collo and Tall turn back the clock in a few instances, the latter might not be as fit as he used to be but his impact was there for all to see.
In London we have the perfect shot at redemption early on, we meet Canada in Pool B alongside USA, and Samoa. Another tricky looking pool, with little to pick out from the four sides, Canada are currently placed 6th on the overall log with 82 points, Samoa are in eighth on 69 points, with USA in 13th.
The obvious battle for a better log placing between Samoa, Kenya and Canada is quite obvious. And makes for a great sub plot to the race for a cup place on day 2, USA here will be the ‘spoilers’ if you may.
Canada will be the biggest threat here, based on recent form, they just coming from a first ever appearance in a cup final. They’ll surely be looking to have another run in the cup, in Glasgow we seemed to have no answer to their direct play, if we manage to counter this and keep the ball from them we should get the result. It will be the third meeting against the Canadians, having won one and lost two of those.
It will be the second meeting against Samoa, having lost the first encounter 24-12 in the opening Pool D fixture in New Zealand. The Islanders will be a tricky candidate, they have so far had a challenging season and will be up for a strong finish in London.
The USA, will probably be the easier opponent on paper, but with what this series has become there are no easy teams. We have met USA once before this season , in Australia, winning that Pool A encounter 31-5.
Another cup quarter final will be a good return, but with the performance in Glasgow, you kind of feel that a Cup semi final wouldn’t be out of reach for the side. With the side set to return to Glasgow in a few weeks, a strong performance here will do our preparations for the Common Wealth games a whole load of good.
Game timings, Kenyan time :
11:22 am – Kenya v United States
2:28 pm – Kenya v Samoa
5:54 pm – Kenya v Canada
KWISHA…Nimeruka Nje!!!