Argentina, Samurai warn rivals

Argentina players when the team arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Tuesday for the Safaricom Safari Sevens rugby tournament, which will be held in the country from Friday to Sunday. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO

By  AYUMBA AYODI

What you need to know:

  • “This is our first and last competitive build-up ahead of Gold Coast,” said Gomez on arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Tuesday.
  • Separately, Samurai coach Sailosi Naiteqe said he has only spiced his young side for Safaricom Safari Sevens with four Fijian internationals since the modern sevens rugby calls for speed and power.

Argentina Sevens coach Santiago Gomez will be using this weekend’s Safaricom Safari Sevens to fine-tune ahead of the 2014/2015 World Sevens Series starting in next month in Australia.

Gomez, who is the IRB World Sevens Series all-time highest try scorer, said they will put to test what they have done in the past three months before Gold Coast Sevens, due October 11-12 at Cbus Super Stadium.

GOLD COAST

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“This is our first and last competitive build-up ahead of Gold Coast,” said Gomez on arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Tuesday. “We have lots of expectation this weekend, being the first time we shall play together as a team besides putting our game and systems to practice.”

Argentina have been handed England, USA and Canada in Pool D at the Gold Coast Sevens.

Separately, Samurai coach Sailosi Naiteqe said he has only spiced his young side for Safaricom Safari Sevens with four Fijian internationals since the modern sevens rugby calls for speed and power.

The only Fijian internationals in the Samurai side are Waisale Dau Lagilagi, Sunia Vositaka, Mosese Mawalu and Sevuloni Mocenacagi.

Most of the youngsters, aged between 22 and 20, featured in the Ireland Sevens and Sri Lanka Sevens victories a few weeks ago.

“We are aware of the dynamism of the game, hence we need to rebuild every time with the infusion of new blood,” Naiteqe said yesterday on arrival at JKIA.

Samurai reached the 1998 and 2011 finals but settled for Plate last year.

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