Charging Kenya flatten all on day one action
Kenya Sevens crushed Madagascar, Senegal and Mauritius to get their 2016 Rio Olympic Games qualifying campaign underway at Barnard Stadium, Johannesburg.
Kenya will now meet Madagascar in the first quarter-final sUNday from 11.44am, while Uganda faces Tunisia and Namibia clash with Morocco. The last quarters will see Zimbabwe take on Nigeria.
Kenya, who conceded only one try in the Pool “A” contest, touched down eight times to maul Madagascar 46-0 and sail through to the Cup quarters.
STEAMROLL
The Kenyans had earlier on dismissed Mauritius 50-5 before steamrolling Senegal 27-0.
Two quick kick-off tries from newcomer Frank Wanyama and Eden Agero followed by Collins Injera and a conversion by Agero saw Kenya lead 17-0 at the break.
Leonard Mugaisi made a solo run after latching on a re-start ball to cut all through for a try that Agero converted before Wanyama and Injera went claimed a brace of tries.
William Ambaka and Dennis Ombachi would also cross the line for the emphatic victory.
Shujaa found themselves at a back foot when Mauritius scored first but were fast to regroup, scoring three unanswered tries through Ambaka, Billy Odhiambo and Andrew Amonde. Agero converted them for a 21-5 lead at the interval.
Odhiambo grabbed a brace after the restart before Injera, debutantes Jeff Oluoch and Wanyama crossed the line. Biko Adema also scored a try and made three conversions for the victory.
CLASSY TRIES
Injera and Odhiambo were at the centre of things with classy tries that went converted against Senegal. Adema would convert Oluoch’s try as Kenya Sevens led 17-0 at the drinks.
Kenya’s main rivals Zimbabwe and Namibia topped their respective Pool B and C. Namibia edged out Morocco 24-21 before thrashing Botswana 33-0 while Zimbabwe beat Nigeria 31-12, mauled Zambia 48-0 before crushing Uganda 43-0.
The winner will gain the single automatic berth to Rio 2016 while the next three will go through a final playoff.
Meanwhile, Kenya Sevens have been handed tough opponents in Pool “D” of Dubai Sevens, the opening leg of the 2015/2015 World Rugby Sevens Series due December 3 to 5 in Dubai.
The 2009 and 2013 Rugby World Cup semi-finalists will take on England, who have so far qualified for Rio Olympics, rugby giants Australia and Wales.