Kevin ‘Bling’ Wambua cut a rueful figure after Kenya’s Shujaa were undone by nerves and tactical lapses in a 21–5 defeat to the United States at Nyayo Stadium, a loss that left the home side third in the opening leg of the World Rugby 7s Division 2 series.
Wambua admitted the defining problem was composure, or the lack of it, when Shujaa were without the ball. The coach painted a picture of a side that rushed to reclaim possession, crowding the breakdown and leaving gaps that the Americans exploited.
Two tries sprung from those moments of overcommitment, he said, as Kenya repeatedly sent extra bodies into rucks they did not need to contest.
The head coach described the defeat as part of an adjustment period.
He explained that the squad is still bedding into a defensive system that demands discipline and role clarity. When players panicked, the structure broke down and the team lost control of the tempo — a lesson Wambua says will be learned quickly.
Key takeaway from Wambua: regain composure off the ball, trust the system, and let defence dictate the pace.
The United States struck early and efficiently. Lucas Lacamp and Aaron Cummings crossed in the first half, with Lacamp converting both to send the visitors into a 14–0 interval lead.
The North Americans added a late third through Adam Channel, while Kenya’s consolation came in dramatic fashion when George ‘Japolo’ Ooro weaved from midfield to score in added time, rescuing a bright finish for the home crowd.
Wambua also singled out accuracy as an area for improvement, suggesting that sharper execution in attack could have altered the scoreboard.
Despite the disappointment, Wambua refused to be defeated by a single result.
He framed the campaign as a marathon, not a sprint, and urged patience with two legs still to come in Montevideo and Sao Paulo. The coach expressed confidence that the squad will tighten up defensively and pick up momentum as the series unfolds.
Germany topped the standings with 13 points, the United States finished second, and Kenya placed third. Shujaa return to training with clear homework: calm the ruck, sharpen the tackle line, and convert lessons into points on the scoreboard.
