Sometimes the results do not go your own way despite a good performance. This was the case for the Kenya Sevens team, Shujaa in the just concluded Hong Kong Sevens, the fifth leg of World Rugby Sevens World Series.

Drawn in a tough Pool C that produced one finalist. Shujaa had a dream start by beating Spain which is perhaps one of the form teams of the circuit who placed second in the overall standing before Hong Kong. They did not only beat Spain but did not concede a point.

The win was a marker for the weekend that sawa a 7-12 loss to Great Britain and 7-14 to finalists France.  A team is always as good as the last performance. In Vancouver, Shujaa could have just been going through the motions and leaked points but in Hong Kong, it was a different team that battled for every point.

In contention

At some point, Shujaa believed they were in contention to finish among the top eight and avoid a bruising qualifier at the end of the league in Singapore. Some of the teams that Kenya hoped could falter and give them a chance of survival were Great Britain and Australia. But, these teams upped their performance and inched away from the bottom four teams. 

The remaining two tournaments therefore became a preparation for the play-off in Los Angeles in May. Kevin Wambua and Louis Kisia who, against all odds built a new squad from the scraps after many regular players either resigned and sought better pastures ensured Shujaa were back to the big dance. They battled through the tough and competitive Challenger Series before landing the qualifiers in Madrid, Spain where with Uruguay, they gained promotion to the core status.

It is the same script after a spirited performance in Hong Kong and waiting to be polished up in Singapore which is synonymous with Kenya’s only win in 2016 under Benjamin Ayimba.

Keyboard coaches

Keyboard coaches have been dissecting Shujaa’s performance in the Series and often look at the coaching structure. Sports News Arena has a different view. If we look at some of the teams in the Series, the technical bench is purely made up of local coaches who in most cases are former players. Fiji, New Zealand, Spain, Argentina and South Africa are good examples.

It could be harsh to point fingers at Wambua and Kisia. Others have targeted Andrew Amonde, a former captain who is now the strength and conditioning coach. Technically, Amonde provides a crucial link from his experience and is also de-facto a coach, a similar alignment with the technical benches of other core teams. 

Local coaches understand players better. In the past, Kenya has opted for foreign coaches who have no knowledge of the local conditions. What such coaches do is to build on talent assembled by the local coaches and when the results are positive, the foreign coach is called a hero! This is a discussion for another time.

Lasting impact

Suffice to say two coaches that made a lasting impact on Shujaa are Paul Treu and Chris Brown. Treu, a brilliant rugby mind was hurriedly hounded out before he could build up a winning team based on his philosophies.

Kenya Rugby Union wanted quick results at the time and always. Brown has quietly distinguished himself in various positions and the results have been impressive with the latest involvement being with Kenya Lionesses.

Singapore Sevens

Anyway, as Shujaa brace for the start of Singapore Sevens, this is a familiar ground and they will silence the critics.

In Hong Kong, Black Ferns Sevens won back to back in the women’s category while Argentina finally won in Hong Kong’s new rugby haven.

Hong Kong Sevens results

Pool A: Argentina, Fiji, USA, Ireland

Fiji 26 USA 21, Argentina 35 Ireland 7, Fiji 21 Ireland 19, Argentina 52 USA 5 ,USA 10 Ireland 19, Argentina 35 Fiji 7.  

Pool B: South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay

New Zealand 21 Australia 12, South Africa 40 Uruguay 7, New Zealand 29 Uruguay 0, South Africa 7 Australia 26, Australia 28 Uruguay 12, South Africa 7 New Zealand 17.

Pool C: Spain, France, Great Britain, Kenya.

Great Britain 12 France 7, Spain 0 Kenya 19, Great Britain 12 Kenya 7, Spain 19 France 12, France 14 Kenya 7, Spain 26 Great Britain 12. 

Main Cup quarter finals: Australia 34 Great Britain 5, Argentina 22 Ireland 14, Spain 28 Fiji 31, New Zealand 14 France 21; Semi-finals: Australia 7 Argentina 31, Fiji 17 France 24; Play-off: Australia 22 Fiji 21; Final: Argentina 12 France 7..

Fifth place play-off: New Zealand 24 Spain 5.

Seventh place play-off: Great Britain 12 Ireland 28.

Ninth place semi final: Kenya 17 USA 10; South Africa 33 Uruguay 7; Final: Kenya 17 South Africa 19.

Eleventh place play off: USA 14 Uruguay 21.

Overall standing: Argentina 88, Fiji 76, Spain 74, South Africa 66, France 64, Australia 54, New Zealand 50, Great Britain 38, Kenya 18, Uruguay 17, Ireland 15, USA 10.

Women

Pool A: New Zealand, USA, Brazil, China.

Brazil 12 USA 31, New Zealand 45 China 0, Brazil 36 China 10, New Zealand 33 USA 21,USA 24 China 10, New Zealand 29 Brazil 7. 

Pool B: France, Great Britain, Ireland, Fiji.

Great Britain 12 France 22, Fiji 26 Ireland 17, Great Britain 28 Ireland 17, Fiji 14 France 24, France 17 Ireland 12, Fiji 24 Great Britain 5. 

Pool C: Australia, Canada, Japan, Spain.

Japan 17 Canada 24, Australia 54 Spain 12, Japan 24 Spain 19, Australia 26 Canada 15, Canada 29 Spain 10, Australia 14 Japan 10 

Cup quarter finals: Fiji 17 Canada 26, New Zealand 31 Brazil 7, Australia 35 USA 5, France 34 Japan 0; Semi-finals: Canada 0 New Zealand 41, Australia 28 France 5; Play-off: Canada 21 France 17; Final: New Zealand 26 Australia 19.

Fifth place play-off: USA 7 Fiji 19.

Seventh place play-off: Japan 32 Brazil 14.

Ninth place semi-final: Ireland 7 Spain 17, Great Britain 19 China 24; Final: Spain 7 China 12.

Eleventh place play off: Ireland 5 Great Britain 32.

Overall standing: New Zealand 96, Australia 88, France 66, Canada 56, USA 56, Japan 52, Fiji 38, Great Britain 37, Brazil 32, China 20, Ireland 19, Spain 10.