Shujaa to bank on defense at Dubai Sevens

New Zealand's Dylan Collier (C) competes against Kenya players during the fifth-place cup semi-final of the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens tournament in Singapore on April 29, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / ROSLAN RAHMAN

Kenya rugby Sevens captain Andrew Amonde believes their defence will play a crucial role in next week’s Dubai Sevens.   

Shujaa head to the three-day event (December 5-7) on the back of a solid defensive display that saw them qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games after conceding four tries in six matches at the Africa Sevens and the KCB man has rallied his troops to build on that momentum in the opening round of the 2019-20 World Sevens Series.

“The important thing is to get it right from the beginning. We have been working hard on our defending because we know that is an area that can win you games. For now, much of our focus is on what can work well for us and the mood in the team is positive,” Amonde said at the RFUEA ground yesterday.

Shujaa, coached by New Zealander Paul Feeney, will be seeking to start the season on a high having failed to impress in the 2018-19 Series when they collected 37 points in 10 legs.

At the Dubai tournament, the Kenyans have been drawn in a tough pool D that has 2017-18 Series winners South Africa, England, as well as Spain and Amonde, knows what to expect from the trio.

“This is a very tough pool but we are well prepared having done everything we are required to do. We have won the last two tournaments, which we have played in,” said the forward.

Feeney has retained the squad that did duty at the Olympic qualifiers with Kabras Sugar forward Daniel Sikuta the only new inclusion having failed to make the cut in the Africa Sevens team.

Shujaa’s all-time top try scorer Collins Injera has failed to pass the fitness test despite resuming training following a shoulder Injury he picked at last month’s Safari Sevens.

“Injera is about 85 percent ready,” Feeney said.

After the Dubai Sevens, Shujaa will head to South Africa.