Kenya Sevens rout Zimbabwe, Samoa to finish top of Group C

By BS MULAVI

Head Coach Mike Friday is looking forward to today’s matches in the Sevens Rugby World Cup after cruising through the group stages of the tournament.

Kenya came out top of a competitive Pool C that also comprised Philippines, Zimbabwe and Samoa. Friday and his troops followed up their day one 45-5 drubbing of Philippines, with a clinical 31-5 hammering of Zimbabwe and, finally, a hard-fought 17-12 victory over Samoa.

Speaking to press after the games, Friday claimed the group stages were only a preparation for the final day in which they will play in the quarterfinals of the Main Cup competition.

“It’s all about the last day when you come to a tournament like this,” he said.

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“Every team wants to be playing in the Main Cup competition because this is where the winners of the cup will come from. We have to get ourselves ready and hope we can put an equally good performance as we have done.”

Friday feels that topping the pool gave the boys an air of confidence as they move into the next stage.

“Credit to the boys, they have really put in a remarkable performance. Such good result from an amateur team against professional sides is not easy and the boys have really given a professional showing against three difficult sides.”

“Samoa is the most experienced side in the tournament and to beat them while they have most of the star players, feels special and shows how well the boys are faring,” said Friday.

The former England coach also lauded the Kenyan fans for the support they have been getting right from the IRB Sevens circuit straight to the World Cup.

“Our fans have been relentless, in a good way and we are glad we are able to reciprocate with our performances,” he said.

“We call them the ‘40 million plus’ and they have been supportive in our tours abroad and not forgetting the home fans right from Nairobi, not only in the capital, but also at the Coast, Western Province and in Nyanza,” he added.

Kenya were the first team in the tournament to qualify for the quarter-finals and Friday feels this gave them breathing space to start preparing themselves mentally for the quarters. Even though he claimed it would not really make a difference if they were the last side to qualify for the quarterfinals, but it came with a bit of relief.

Friday will be equally pleased that tries from the side are not concentrated on one person, but they are spaced out in the team.

Players like Kayange and Ayange are finding their way to the post more frequently. However, the team has proven to be quite potent when it comes to scoring.

The side has also been solid in defence and have been a force to reckon with in the contact area, where no loose balls are being entertained.