With toned down expectations, the Shujaa did just what I expected of them in getting to the Semi Finals. Not with too much style, or too much passion, but by doing just enough. Possibly, the inspiration of the coaching staff to bring in fresh players for the sudden death period showed some foresight and it paid off...So where do we lie now?

In my last post I had said we had become robotic and predictable. I suggested we’re not doing much to win matches, just doing the bare minimum in a stereotypical, predictable way. Not much has changed in my assessment, save the element of chance. All teams rely on this element of luck...A missed tackle here, a handling error there. What are we doing to increase the chances of that?

We have the most experienced side on the circuit but we are also being read like an open book at present. Everyone knows our danger men and we have no alternative. We are not introducing new players to the circuit. There are a number of players waiting in the wings, but we are afraid to upset the apple cart.

Granted, an experienced, fit player would be selected by any coach ahead of a novice any day, but we need to look into how we can mix the two.

We have areas where we are glaringly deficient. We are not big enough up front, and then not fast enough out wide. Once Collins Injera is taken out of play or Humphrey Kayange not able to go through the middle our options soon run out. The unpredictability in the team takes the shape of Gibson Weru and possibly Lavin Asego, but despite the hard work of Victor Oduor, we just seem to fail at the last hurdle.

The coach speaks of the mental toughness that is required from everyone but I also say we are not skilled enough. Other teams know if they rush us, we lose our rhythm and we don't have the skill, handling or otherwise to get out of that and lets be fair this is not an advanced tactic being used against us.

If we are unable to get new players, we must up-skill the existing ones and supplement them with alternatives. What worked for us yesterday, may not work today and definitely not tomorrow, as people are watching us very very keenly.

In the IRB Sevens World Series things move on quickly and I am not sure the Shujaa are moving at the same speed as the other Nations.