Toulouse 7s: Losing start for McGrath as Fiji beat Shujaa in group opener

The new Shujaa management led by Englishman Damian McGrath and his assistant Kevin Wambua got a front row seat to the size of task that awaits them in the national men’s rugby 7s side after the team went down 29-5 against Fiji in their opening pool B match at the ongoing Toulouse 7s on Friday afternoon.

Having taken over from the fired Innocent ‘Namcos’ Simiyu barely two weeks ago, the two were confronted with the job of turning around the tides of a Shujaa side who have been lacking in confidence and morale on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Circuit.

In their first match at the helm, Shujaa had little answers to the double Olympic gold medalists who asserted their dominance with a blistering first half that saw them race to a 17-5 half time lead at the Stade Ernest-Wallon.

Kaminieli Rasaku had given the Oceanic giants a 7-0 lead after touching down and converting his own try in a move that saw him brush off Tony Omondi and Augustine Lugonzo before crossing over the whiteline.

A brilliant piece of skill from Waisea Nacuqu helped Fiji grab their second try of the game that extended their lead to 12-0 following a missed conversion before a strong Elia Canakaivata fended off challenges thrown his way to take the scores to 17-0 after a second missed conversion attempt.

With the first half minutes well spent, Alvin ‘Buffa’ Otieno managed to record Kenya’s first points on the board as he dived in for their first try of the game which reduced the deficit to 17-5 as Omondi missed the extras.

An early blunder on the kickoff upon resumption in the second half allowed Fiji regain easy possession and the double Olympic gold medallists made them pay for that error as Rasaku ran in for his second try of the game that extended the lead to 22-5.

Felipe Sauturaga brought the game to an end with Fiji’s fifth try that completed the 29-5 defeat for Kenya after a successful conversion by Napolioni Bolaca.

Shujaa will now face France in their second and final match of day 1 at 2305EAT before playing Wales on Saturday in their final group game.