Kenyan juggernaut rolls into quarters
Kenya’s Humphrey Kayange (left) talks to teammates following their 43-7 victory over Hong Kong during their IRB Rugby World Cup match. Photo/REUTERS
What you need to know:
- They tear Hong Kong into pieces and then fall to England in a formality match
Kenya qualified for their first ever Rugby World Cup Sevens Cup quarterfinal appearance after steam rolling past Hong Kong 43-7 at the Emirates Sevens ground on Friday.
The top team from each of the six pools and the two best runners-up proceed to the Cup quarter-finals that will be held on the final day of the tournament today.
England top Pool ‘E’ after beating Kenya 26-7 on Friday evening.
Teams will be reseeded before Saturday’s knock-stage draw.
England laboured to beat Tunisia 26-24 on Friday but their coach Ben Ryan expressed confidence of going through to the Cup quarters.
“The game against Kenya is a must win game. My players know all about playing the big game. It will be a good match,” Ryan said.
Kenya on Thursday beat Tunisia 29-7 and are now being considered as one of the outsiders who can realistically challenge for the title against the big guns – New Zealand, Fiji, South Africa, England and Samoa.
The Kenyans, backed by hundreds of traveling fans, fell to an early Rowan Varty converted try for Hong Kong but turned on the style with an imperious display of wonderful running rugby to reply with seven touch downs.
Gibson Weru began the rout, picking Injera’s inside pass on the touchline to pull back the conceded try. Gangly Kayange broke through the middle and Weru offered the crucial support to claim his second try.
Ruthless rugby
Injera then showed strength to pull out of a maul with the ball and set up Weru for his second touch down as Kenya finished the half on the ascend.
The tempo got higher for the confident Kenyans as Asego landed over for his second soon after kick before substitutes Horace Owiti, showing some delightful football skill, and Sidney Ashioya, claimed a try apiece to effectively end the contest.
But one feels, the match could not end before an Injera try. It duly came deep into the match when the deadly Kenyan finisher benefited from a loose ball in midfield to race unchallenged.
Kenya already have one foot in the Cup quarters tomorrow but must beat or draw with England to guarantee qualification.
Group “A” top seeds New Zealand produced some ruthless rugby led by the dangerous Vilaime Vaqaseduadua to down Arabian Gulf 41-5.
