Kenya Shujaa look to survive tough format

Kenya Sevens kicker Nygel Amaitsa is hopeful that they will redeem themselves as they renew their rivalry with Australia at Cape Town Sevens today.

Amaitsa said that they didn’t have a good start in the World Rugby Seven Series finishing 10 out of 12 nations in the opening leg in Dubai last weekend.

“We didn’t have the start we wanted in Dubai but we are well motivated for the next task in Cape Town,” said Amaitsa on the phone from Cape Town.

It is Amaitsa, who orchestrated Shujaa’s 22-7 win over South Africa in Dubai, scoring the decisive try.

Kenya Sevens will have revenge on their minds as they take on Australia in a Pool “B” match from 12pm.

Australia crushed Shujaa 31-14 in their final pool match in Dubai to end the African’s dream of a Cup quarters place.

Eventually, Australia finished seventh after beating Great Britain 17-12 in the play-off.

Kenya lost 15-7 to Uruguay in their classification play-off.

Shujaa faces Dubai Sevens' surprise package Spain at 3:16 pm in their last pool match of the new World Series format.

In cases of back-to-back legs, the second tournament has teams divided into four groups of three teams each with the top nation in each pool qualifying for the semi-finals.

Kenya’s former co-captain Anthony Omondi has been recalled for the Cape Town leg replacing injured Chrisant Ojwang.

Ojwang underwent successful surgery in Dubai last week and has been flown home. He will be out for at least three months.

Omondi and Vincent Onyala, who were Kenya Sevens co-captains last season, were dropped from the team over contractual disputes.

Kenya assistant coach Louis Kisia said he was glad Omondi was back and they will keep on rebuilding the team and he was hoping for a good show in Cape Town.

“He is not a newcomer and is one of the most experienced players in the world series,” said Kisia.

Daystar speedster Patrick Odongo, with a team-high four tries in Dubai, will once again lead Kenya’s offensive play.

In the new format, teams finishing second in their pool will compete in the fifth to eighth place play-offs and those finishing third will play for ninth to 12th positions.

According to World Rugby, the new format is based on player welfare considerations and has been introduced following consultation with teams and other stakeholders.

Brave Spain claimed the silver medal in Dubai after losing 19-5 to Fiji 19-5 in a cracking final where the South Pacific islanders claimed the first title in the series since finishing top of the pile in Toulouse in 2022.

Fiji are paired with Great Britain and Uruguay in Pool “B”. Pool “C” has Argentina, hosts South Africa and Ireland, while Pool “D” is composed of giants New Zealand, reigning Olympic Games champions France and the USA.