NAIROBI, Kenya, March 18 – Adelaide has produced some special memories for the Kenya Sevens team and coach Benjamin Ayimba hopes this weekend will yield more Kodak moments.
Ayimba’s charges reached their first International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens main cup final in the coastal city and the former captain hopes they can leave Australia with the trophy they covet the most.
“This was the first place we beat England in my first year as coach and it was also the place where we reached the main final for the first time so we hope we can go one better this time round,” said Ayimba.
Kenya who are sixth on the IRB sevens standings with 44 points are in Pool C alongside Fiji, world champions Wales and Papua New Guinea, teams they have not faced so far these season.
“We’ve got the world champions and Fiji who have really hit top form and PNG who are really picking up when you look at their performances in Wellington. It’s a pool in which we have to sharp in order to top and that’s what we’ll be out to do,” said Ayimba.
The return of Dennis Mwanja and Victor Sudi should add some much needed bite to Kenya’s impact at the breakdown area after it was found wanting in the last tour.
Both players have been in top form for their respective sides and Ayimba hopes the veterans can replicate that form at the Adelaide Oval.
Mwanja in particular is renowned fro his physicality both in attack and defence while his rampaging runs with ball in hand should help Kenya get over the gain line with ease.
Gibson Weru and Lavin Asego should pick up where they left off in the previous tour.
Weru’s sniping breaks from the base adds more potency to Kenya’s attacks while Asego’s coolness under pressure and searing runs from anywhere on the pitch should give the opposition something to think about.
Last season’s top try scorer Collins Injera has been a marked man this season though he still managed to dot down eight times and should remain the go to man out wide.
Kenya open their account on Friday morning against PNG at 11.36 am local time.
They round off their pool assignments on Saturday when they take on world champions Wales at 8.01 am and then Fiji at 11.56 am.
