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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Cheetahs on the prowl

Pulse

By The Standard Sports | Jun 04, 2011

By BS MULAVI

The Cheetahs have rubbished claims that they will be pushovers in today’s mouth whetting final against the Rhinos to mark the conclusion of the six week Bamburi Rugby Super Series.

Speaking to Feverpitch, Cheetahs head tactician Paul Murunga roared that they are going to give the defending champions Rhinos a run for their money as the two meet in their third final since the inception of the tournament in 2003.

"I don’t think we can be considered as a smaller team in the final because we have already dismissed all the other sides to make it to where we are at the moment," said Murunga.

"We are here by merit and it is not by sheer luck, so I don’t think in a final that you can say there is an underdog or a favourite, we are going to meet an opponent who is of equal strength and is equally as lethal as we are," he added.

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Raring to go

The Rhinos have emerged victorious in their previous two meetings and the Cheetahs who are now fully healed from the deeply inflicted scars, are raring to have a go at the champs.

"There is talk about how good their forwards are but also look at our own, who have steered us to the finals.

"We have Mike Aung, Duncan Ekasi and Ian Indimuli on our side all of whom are enjoying a fantastic campaign and we are sure they are going to match the Rhinos forwards in the set plays and in open play," Murunga said.

Rhinos coach Enos Otieno, however, acknowledged the favourites tag with open arms and claimed that his team had trained and played hard enough to enter the final with upper hand considering that they are on the verge of making history by becoming the first franchise to actually defend the title for three consecutive years.

Otieno went on to say that he is expecting a bruising battle at the forwards, a duel they are more than ready for.

"We know that the team that will dominate in the forwards will win the final and ultimately the title, but we are well prepared for it and all that is left is execution," he said.

Otieno has made two changes to the pack that started in their semi-final against Ruwenzori two weeks ago with the inclusion of former Mean Machine captain Wilson K’opondo to the back row and introduction of former Kenya captain Daniel Kiptoo to the front row to partner Vincent Ongera and Joel Ng’ang’a.

The Nakuru tactician has also heaped praise on his backline.