Rugby Africa Men’s 7s: Morans crush Algeria in second pool match

Kenya 7s team; Morans delivered a resounding 40-0 victory over Algeria in a one-sided Rugby Africa Men’s 7s second pool match played on Saturday in Mauritius.

The Kenyans were coming off a 26-7 victory over Zambia in the opening pool match.

The match began with a shaky start for Kenya as they fumbled the opening kickoff.

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However, they quickly recovered, demonstrating their resilience with a try from Amon Wamalwa following a scrum. Although the conversion attempt fell short, Kenya had secured an early lead.

The Morans continued building momentum. A series of seamless passes and the ball fell on Gabriel Ayimba’s hands. He did not hesitate to go over for the second try which Dennis Abukuse successfully converted.

William Mwanji then took center stage, showcasing his impressive footwork as he danced through the Algerian defense to score another five-pointer. Abukuse continued his flawless conversions, extending Kenya's lead to a comfortable 19-0.

Mwanji was not finished yet. His strategic play and exceptional control led to another successful try, with Abukuse once again adding the extra points. The first half concluded with a dominant 26-0 score in favor of Kenya.

The second half began with a few handling errors by the Morans, allowing Algeria to temporarily threaten their territory.

However, Abukuse stepped up with a crucial interception, breaking free for a try and converting it himself. This ignited a renewed spirit in the Kenyan team, and Festus Shiasi capitalized on the momentum with a well-constructed try.

Wamalwa sealed the victory with a successful conversion, bringing the final score to a resounding 40-0.

The Kenyans will be keen to keep their fine form going when they lock horns with Madagascar in the final pool match.

This will be the second meeting between these two sides in this tournament. They met in the first leg where Madagascar edged Morans 7-5. They will be on a revenge mission.

The overall winner of the 2024 Africa Men’s 7s will be determined by the points accumulated across the two rounds.

The top two ranked team after both rounds will qualify for the 2025 World Rugby 7s Challenger Series.

Morans Squad in Mauritius:

Brian Mutua (CC), Ben Salem (CC), William Mwanji, Dennis Abukuse, Elvis Olukusi, Richard Liva, Gabriel Ayimba, Harmony Wamalwa, Festus Shiasi, Joel Inzuga, Victor Odhiambo, Edmund Anya

Head Coach: Louis Kisia

Team Manager: Morgan Ngumbi

Physio: John Elly