Very tall order indeed for Singapore 7s champions

French rugby player Pierre-Giles Lakafia (left) with team manager Christophe Reigh (centre) and Collins Injera of Kenya pose for photographs prior to a press conference for Singapore Rugby Sevens tournament in Singapore on April 11, 2017. PHOTO | ROSLAN RAHMAN |

What you need to know:

  • To win a leg you must beat six quality sides, says Injera
  • Reigning title holders Kenya face giants Australia, Samoa and Argentina in tough Group C on Saturday
  • Shujaa have met Argentina twice this season, losing 17-12 in the pool stage at Wellington before battling to a 14-14 draw in Las Vegas. Shujaa and Australia have met twice this season, traded victories.

Kenya face a tall order when they launch their Singapore Sevens title defence against Argentina at 6am on Saturday at the National Stadium.

Shujaa will then face off with Australia at 9.22am before wrapping up their Pool C assignments against Samoa at 12.56pm in the leg where they made history last year by winning their first ever series title.

They beat reigning Series champion Fiji 30-7 to spark wild celebration at home.

Shujaa have met Argentina twice this season, losing 17-12 in the pool stage at Wellington before battling to a 14-14 draw in Las Vegas. Shujaa and Australia have met twice this season, traded victories.

Australia won their pool match 14-12 in Dubai before Shujaa exerted revenge 19-17 in Challenge Trophy final in Wellington.

Shujaa and Samoa clashed last in Las Vegas where the Innocent “Namcos” Simiyu’s charges prevailed 21-14 to lift the Challenge Trophy.

Shujaa goes into the eighth leg of the World Series in 11th place with 47 points while Australia and Argentina are sixth and seventh with 79 and 69 points respectively.

Samoa is the only team placed below Kenya in 13th place with 31 points.

Shujaa are chasing their second main Cup appearance since their sixth place finish in South Africa, their best show this season.

Kenya will be on the spotlight after their win dramatic final against Fiji last year.

“It was a very special win for us,” Collins Injera told World Rugby.

“I’ve been playing in the series for a long time now and this is my ninth year. I’ve had a lot of great memories with Humphrey so winning last year in Singapore was truly special for me personally.”

Injera, who is also battling to reclaim his all-time leading World Rugby Series top try scorer position that he lost to Dan Norton of England a week ago said that going into Singapore last year, they were confident of doing well. “Having never won a tournament before, we had no expectations of that sort.

"To win on the World Series, you have to beat six quality teams to take home the trophy so a lot of things have to go your way,” said Injera.

That is the motivation Kenya will be riding on as they defend their title. Dan Norton scored his 36th try of the season in Hong Kong for his total of 246 tries to topple Injera, who has 244, as the leading all-time top try scorer.