Shujaa scrape through to Dubai 7s quarters

Kenya Shujaa will meet Fiji in the Main Cup quarter-finals of the opening round of 2021/22 World Rugby Sevens Series in Dubai on Saturday.

Coach Innocent “Namcos” Simiyu’s charges sneaked into the last eight of the 12-team tournament as one of the two best third-placed teams after finishing out of the top-two automatic places in Pool “B” behind USA and Argentina.

Fiji won Pool “A” after defeating Australia 17-12 in the last match of the day.

Shujaa depended on the outcome of the final Pool “A” match between Canada and France to go through after faltering against USA and Argentina before beating Spain 26-12.

France defeated Canada 24-14 but their -2 points difference against Kenya’s +2 saw Shujaa stay in contention for the crown.

Kenya begun the day with a 14-7 loss to Coach Mike Friday’s USA, haunted by errors, especially in the scrum. Herman Humwa’s try converted by Daniel Taabu was Shujaa’s consolation against USA who got their tries through Stephen Tomasin and Logan Tago. Tomasin made the twos.

Shujaa were unlucky to be denied at the death by Argentina in their second match which was tied 12-12 at the break after Levy Amunga converted his try two minutes after Alvin “Buffa” Otieno reduced Argentina’s lead to 12-5. Santiago Vera Feld had converted one of the two Luciano Gonzalez tries. Amunga converted Jeff Oluoch’s try to give Kenya a 17-12 lead but Argentina capitalized on their numerical strength after Otieno was sin-binned to score winning tries from German Schulz and Santiago Alvarez.

Kenya came out all guns blazing against Spain to run out as victors at the expense of the Europeans with tries from Billy Odhiambo (two), Johnstone Olindi and Humwa. Amunga converted Olindi’s try, with Anthony Omondi making two successful conversions.  

Quarter-final pairings (all times EAT)

Argentina vs Ireland (9.28am)

South Africa vs Australia (9.50am)

USA vs Great Britain (10.12am)

Fiji vs Kenya (10.34am)