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Pumas and Kenyans confident in Hong Kong

Wednesday 25 March 2009 (KRFU & Planet Rugby)

Both Argentina and Kenya have backed themselves to continue to recent run of good form and go all the way in Hong Kong.

Of the four semi-finalists at the recent World Cup - amazingly Wales, Samoa, Kenya and Argentina - the Pumas were the only side to have tasted World Series Cup success this season (USA Sevens) and their consistency has been built on hard graft and an honest group of amateur players.

"We did the right things with the players and the team in the run-up to the World Cup, they'd been together and were confident of themselves and each other and always playing a little bit better and by the time we got to the World Cup we were in a good moment," said Forrester, who was ultimately disappointed to finish in the runners-up position.

"We can't get the final out of our heads and I have to work on the guys now because they don't even want to watch the video," added the coach.

So far this season Argentina have relied heavily on captain Santiago Gomez Cora and Gonzalo Camacho for scoring their tries, and Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino for spotting the holes in attack. None of those players are in Hong Kong, leaving big gaps for Forrester to fill.

"We're looking forward to Hong Kong. It's not an excuse but we are missing five players, important players," said Forrester.

"Our captain Santiago (Gomez Cora) is out and then four others that they took away for fifteens, so we have five new players and they are good players, but one of the best things that our team had before was that it was a group of good players that made a very good team.

"Now I have more good players, but I don't know if it's going to take us long to make a good team again.

"We'll see what happens, we're looking forward to the two tournaments (in Hong Kong and Adelaide), I'm always happy to coach the Argentina team but I know it's not going to be the same - we have to build the team again."

Argentina match up against Portugal, Tonga, and hosts Hong Kong in Pool D.

Kenya, despite being ranked 39th in the IRB rankings in the 15-a-side game, have proved themselves as genuine title contenders on the sevens circuit this season, with a massive improvement in organization and defence.

"Reaching the semi-finals and playing the way we did at the World Cup really motivated the team, we knew we could have done it but we're picking ourselves up now and thinking that maybe if we didn't do it there, maybe we can do it here," said captain Humphrey Kayange.

"Maybe nobody's been noticing, but we've been improving step by step. Last year we were top seeds here too, so we're just aiming to carry on where we left off.

"We have tricky ties in our pool against USA and Scotland, but overall I think that each and every team will be out there to prove themselves after the World Cup. Every team is out to prove something here."

Twice Cup semi-finalists this season in the World Series, the Africans are now targeting a first ever final.

"Most definitely, we're looking to go a step further, at least break that semi-final jinx and reach a final and take it on from there," added Kayange.

Unlike many of the teams in Hong Kong, the Kenyans have been fortunate with selection naming nearly their strongest squad.

“It is fortunate that all the players except Biko Adema who has college commitments. The team was selected according to their current form and also according to technical and positional evaluation,” said Assistant coach Felix Ochieng

Joshua Gathumbi replaces Adema. “We looked at the options available and Gathumbi adds that versatility in the backs where he can be slotted in to more than three positions,” Ochieng explained.

According to Ochieng the experience at the RWC Sevens has added as an incentive for team to deliver once again on the big stage.

“IRB Sevens World Series is a different cup of tea. It is about getting points and we would like to be much more consistent and compete at the semi-finals.

“The big names are feeling the heat so there must be something the second tier teams are doing right,” Ochieng added.

Commenting on a tough Pool E where Kenya has Scotland, USA and West Indies, Ochieng acknowledged that all the teams were full of talent. “We have a bone to pick with USA and any match between us and Scotland is always close.

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