Give way, Injera on his way!

Everybody at the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai is talking about Collins Injera the 22–year-old Mwamba wing. Here is why?

Kenya had reeled in Tunisia’s seven-point lead with an unconverted try from Injera’s brother Humphrey Kayange on Thursday but they were living dangerously in, this, many times unpredictable sevens game where the bounce of a ball can decide results.

Then Injera took over. Victor Oduor cut in from the wing, attracted the attention of two tackler and off loaded to the supporting Injera.

His angle of running was just right to take the gap created. But Injera still had a lot to do some 40 meters from the try line. Tunisia’s sweeper was barreling towards him.

Injera just had about a meter to get his acceleration and go beyond the cover defense which he effortlessly did. Try one Injera.

Lavin Asego sent a long pass to Injera on the wing. Tunisia was ready, lined up in a classic flat defensive formation. No gap to take.

Finishing pass

He glided left, right, and somehow there was space for him to exploit. Desperate hands tried to hold on to him but his strength – he is deceptively strong for his lean 80 kg – saw him break through.

There was still time and space for the defense to recover, but the deadly form of Injera meant this was a battle that would have only one outcome: another touch down. Try two Injera.

His third try was all opportunistic. A more technical assessment of the game would say he had a good read of the situation.

Asego broke free and Injera was by his side for the finishing pass. No problem with a free run to the line. Try three, Injera.

He has been in this deadly form all season thus far. At the Dubai Sevens in November last year he top scored with seven tries.

Currently, he is the joint top scorer of the IRB world sevens series with 20 points.

“That is all I want to do. I just want to keep scoring and scoring. That is my work on the pitch, to keep scoring,” the straight talking Injera told me when I got a chance to pull him away from their closely monitored life here in Dubai.

“I like taking on the defenders and if a chance comes to score, why not?” the Vihiga High School graduate added.

Couple of tries

Versus Hong Kong yesterday: Bendict Nyambu put in a crunching tackle. Injera picked up the lose ball and did just that as the opposition so the folly of giving chase: Try four, Injera.

“His form has already shown. There are a couple of tries he has made which are super running tries. He is at that great form of Dubai,” his coach Benjamin Ayimba said.

“I wonder when he is going to stop. He keeps shocking everyone, scoring tries all over the place. It is good for him and Kenya,” his captain Kayange said.

The official IRB website has rated Injera fifth deadliest finisher prior to the 2009 RWCS behind Santiago Gomez (Argentina), Gio Aplon (South Africa), Tom Varndell (England) and Vilame Waqaseduadua (New Zealand).