NAIROBI, Kenya, May 28- Kenya sevens rugby team will be looking for redemption when they line up in the final International Rugby Board sevens leg in Edinburgh on Saturday.The East Africans open proceedings in Murrayfield against series leaders Samoa from 10:35am before facing Argentina at 3:23pm. Their final pool match will be against France at 5:57pm.
The boys produced a below par performance in London last weekend failing to make the main cup quarters for only the second time this season. A 22-17 loss to Wales and 19-10 to the USA were particularly galling as Kenya slipped down to eighth in the standings with 52 points.
The only bright spot was a feisty 19-19 draw against the All Blacks but all in all, their performances fell below their recent high standards.
Missed tackles, bad decision making and poor execution were the main characteristics and Benjamin Ayimba will have to eradicate it if they are to get out of a tricky pool.
Having beaten Samoa only three times and losing 17, Kenya will have produce a performance of the ages to get past the Islanders who have set their sights on winning the overall crown.
But they will draw hope from a 17-10 win in the Bowl semi in London last year.
World cup runners up Argentina also boast a better record against Kenya having won ten times as opposed to Kenya’s five including at the world cup semis but Ayimba’s boys will feel they can improve on that record.
The group’s final match against France will provide the sequel to Kenya’s 24-21 win in the shield final in London a week ago.
However, a hallmark of Kenya is the ability to churn out results when their backs are against the wall as was evidenced in Hong Kong where they reached main cup quarters after losing their way in Adelaide a week earlier.
Skipper Humphrey Kayange has been in good nick with six tries in London and he will have to summon all his leadership qualities here to inspire the likes of Innocent Simiyu, Brian Nyikuli and Collins Injera to deliver.
Leon Adongo and Horace Owiti were useful off the bench and will again be called upon to provide back up if Kenya is to sign off in style.
