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| March 30, 2003 | Sunday | Muharram 26, 1424 |
Kenya stun Australia as big guns rumble on
HONG KONG, March 29: Kenya’s rugby players took a leaf out of their cricket team’s giant-killing book to score a shock victory over Australia at the Hong Kong Sevens here on Saturday.
The African minnows lit up the second day of the world-famous seven-a-side tournament with a 15-12 win over Australia as New Zealand, England and Fiji all advanced safely to the quarterfinals.
Defeat left Australia contemplating a quarterfinal against England, who sounded a warning to their rivals after unleashing secret weapon Ugo Monye to scorch into the last eight.
Monye, who has a personal best time of 10.6sec for the 100m, showed electrifying speed and bagged six tries as England defeated Chinese Taipei 43-5 and Tonga 42-7 to top Pool B.
Lydon would not be drawn on England’s chances in the knockout stages, saying that any of the eight teams were capable of lifting the title.
Monye admitted the squad was trying to stay focused on Hong Kong and not events in Dublin this weekend where England will face a Six Nations crunch with Ireland on Sunday.
England are likely to meet Fiji in Sunday’s semi-finals if they can negotiate their way past Australia.
The Fijians, playing without legendary sevens king Waisale Serevi, defeated Japan 59-7 before topping Pool C with a 33-12 win over Canada to set up a quarterfinal with Samoa.
New Zealand meanwhile will be strong favourites to advance to the final after improving steadily in their two matches on Saturday.
Fijian playmaker Amasio Valance was the standout for the Kiwis, who defeated the USA 57-7 before sweeping aside Namibia 46-0.
New Zealand’s veteran skipper Eric Rush singled out England as a serious threat to the his side’s hopes.
This year’s Hong Kong Sevens is being staged despite a health crisis in the former British colony caused by the atypical pneumonia outbreak which has left 12 dead in the territory and scores infected.—AFP
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