After finishing 7th in the 2014 National Sevens Circuit, Resolution Impala Saracens will have to dig deeper for focus & consistency if they are to finish top of the circuit. The first assignment on the turf shall be this weekend at the RFUEA- the Christie 7s, familiar territory where the boys collected silver after losing narrowly to Mwamba RFC last year. The RFUEA has also held a sweet spot for the entire Resolution Impala Saracens this past season; The Boks won the ESS title and the Academy side lifted the Mwamba Cup Division II trophy on these grounds.
Christie 7s Pool B: Resolution Impala Saracens, Menengai Cream Homeboyz RFC, Kabras Sugar RFC, Mean Machine
Resolution Impala Saracens 7s coach – Nick Odera, joins us to provide his preview to the Group B matches…
Mean Machine RFC
We cannot afford to underrate them. We all know they had a difficult season last year, being relegated to playing the second tier set of the 7s series during Driftwood and posting dismal performance all series long. They are youthful, very promising and take chances whenever allowed to. We shouldn’t let them control possession or any department of the game. A dismal score against them would get us working back to contain the next 2 teams in line.
Kabras Sugar RFC
Kabras are clever and athletic. They beat us at Prinsloo and Driftwood in matches that hugely defined our proceeding to the quarter finals. We all know they have a solid importation system going on. We don’t consider them our biggest competition when it comes to physicality. Their strength is in their ability to withstand pressure and hang on to the last minute. Their athleticism is also another strength my players have been working on countering. If we beat Machine squarely and slap on Kabras impressively, we should be comfortable enough to face the next opponent with confidence.
Menengai Cream Homeboyz RFC
They are probably coming into Christies the most motivated team. A recently announced 2 year sponsorship by Menengai Cream could be drive enough to get them steam rolling teams during the series. Hunger to defend their 2nd position finish in 2014 is another. We cannot rule out their physicality and kicking game whenever the opposition denies them entry into the try box. We have seen them lose to Western Bulls during Nairobi 10s. We have also seen our youngsters face them with arrogance during Nakuru 10s. One thing is a fact, we can wrap up Day 1 of the Christie 7s with a comfortable win over them; only if we deny them possession.