Feeney’s Kenya Confident

The man who helped mastermind Fiji’s win at the 2005 Sevens Rugby World Cup in Hong Kong is now the Kenya 7s head coach.

Kiwi Paul Feeney was brought in as a technical advisor by coach (now Wales head coach) Wayne Pivac as they together with captain Waisale Serevi mapped out Fiji’s path to victory.

The side were laced up with rugby stars like Marika Vunibaka, Vilimoni Delasau, Viliame Satala, Semisi Naevo, Apolosi Satala, Nasoni Roko, Ifereimi Rawaqa, William Ryder, Sireli Bobo, Neumi Nanuku and Jone Daunivucu,

Fifteen years later, Feeney is now in Kenya’s camp as they face the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team in their pool opener of the Sydney 7s tournament on Saturday.

TRICKY POOL

The Kenyans finished eighth at the New Zealand 7s in Hamilton after they had beaten tournament favourites South Africa and drew with Japan in their pool matches.

In Sydney, Feeney said they are in a tricky pool where they take on Series leaders New Zealand, Fiji and Wales.

The win over the Blitzboks at the FMG Stadium in Hamilton has fired up the Kenyans. They are eager to take on the challenge to beat Fiji, Wales and New Zealand to make the Cup semifinal.

Despite going in to seek their first win after six matches against the Fijians Feeney says, they prefer to go in as underdogs.

Feeney’s men have lost their last five matches against the seventh-ranked Fijians, including being beaten 24-5 the last time they met Sydney in January 2018 in the fifth-place semi-finals.

Kenya’s last victory against Fiji came in June 2018 when they ran out 22-19 winners in the season-ending leg in Paris with tries from Collins Injera, William Ambaka, Andrew Amonde and Erick Ombasa.

The trio of Injera, Ambaka and Amonde were instrumental in Kenya’s outing in Hamilton last weekend and will again be expected to step up in Sydney.

Currently, Feeney’s charges occupy position 10 with 25 points in the 16-nation competition. Wales are at the bottom of the log, with four points.

FIJI’S GAMES

The Fijians take on Kenya at 3.09pm on Saturday before they face New Zealand at 9.33pm. On Sunday, they tackle Wales at 2.19pm in their final pool game.

Edited by Osea Bola

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