Rugby
Big guns give Kenya a miss
Kenya captain Humphrey Khayange looks for support during the match against Scotland at the Emirates Airlines Dubai Sevens last weekend. Kenya has been drawn alongside Portugal, Wales and Samoa for the second leg of the IRB Sevens Series to be played in George, South Africa from Thursday. Photo/FILE
Top International Rugby Board Sevens World Series teams are sidestepping Kenya which they have always turned to as sparring partners.
In Dubai, New Zealand which has always been willing to share tips with Kenya turned to the USA while South Africa had a training camp with Arabian Gulf. Another team, Fiji also avoided the Virgin Atlantic Airways-sponsored Kenya team.
Coach Benjamin Ayimba and his technical bench of Felix Ochieng and Oscar Osir are not surprised. “It is obvious they know we are closing ranks with them,” offered Ayimba.
In George, South Africa, the second stop of the IRB sevens series, Kenya turned to Georgia, one of the most physical sides in the opening two legs of the IRB Sevens World Series.
This was a good choice because like Russia, Georgia prefer to take in the ball straight and work their way in restricted space with an aim of wearing the opponents.
Not rosy
Kenya is drawn in a tough Pool D for the George tournament which kicks off on Friday at the Outeniqua Park .Kenya has only won once against Samoa in 15 meetings. Kenya has also played Wales five times and won twice and lost thrice.
The records are not rosy against Portugal either which Kenya has met nine times and only won four times losing five of the matches.
Humphrey Kayange, the Kenya captain said on phone from George that all was well. The team arrived in George on Sunday evening after a seven-hour flight from Dubai and a 45 minute hop from Cape Town.
Ayimba held his first first serious training session was held on Tuesday.
Draw: Pool A: New Zealand, England, France, Tunisia. Pool B: South Africa, Australia, USA, Georgia. Pool C: Fiji, Argentina, Scotland, Zimbabwe. Pool D: Samoa, Kenya, Wales, Portugal.
Order of play: Fiji v Scotland (12.37), Argentina v Zimbabwe (12.59), Samoa v Wales (1.21), Kenya v Portugal (1.43), New Zealand v France (2.05), England v Tunisia (2.27), South Africa v USA (2.49), Australia v Georgia (3.11), Fiji v Zimbabwe 93.43), Argentina v Scotland (4.05), Samoa v Portugal (4.27), Kenya v Wales (4.49), New Zealand v Tunisia (5.11), England v France (5.33), South Africa v Georgia (5.55), Australia v USA (6.17), Scotland v Zimbabwe (6.49), Wales v Portugal (7.11), France v Tunisia (7.330, USA v Georgia (7.55), Fiji v Argentina.
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