Visualizing Kenya 7s Best Tries
The Kenya 7s rugby team has proved a worthy competitor to major rugby nations in the IRB sevens circuit. The rise of the Kenyan sevens team begins almost 7 years ago when they made upsets to top tier teams in the IRB circuit. In this post, we will rank and visualize the top 7 tries that propelled the Kenya 7s team into the annals of sevens rugby history.
To get started, we develop a methodology for ranking the best tries. The first factor that has the highest weight is the significance of a try. If a try propels the team to the next stage of the competition then it gets a higher ranking. The level of the competition (quarters, semis, or final) also adds more significance to ranking. The second factor is psychological gain — a non-quantitative metric that adds to a team’s morale.
The third metric is the distance covered by a player when making a try — some of the superb tries are a run across the entire field. The fourth metric is the number of tackles evaded when making a try. Our fifth and final metric is the ingenuity of a move — this includes; kick, switch, off-load et cetera.
Rank = Significance + Distance + Tackles + Ingenuity
Without further ado, let’s rank the tries.
Number 7: Oscar Ayodi (Kenya vs New Zealand Group Match (2016) — Las Vegas 7s)
This match remains etched in the minds of Kenya rugby fans. It was not the first time that Kenya had beaten New Zealand, but in this match, Kenya beat New Zealand without conceding a try. The game ended Kenya 22–0 New Zealand. Oscar Ayodi scored the opening try with a superb switch pass from Biko Adema. Although it wasn't the winning try, it served to give morale for the subsequent tries.
Significance: Morale
Distance Covered: 25 meters
Tackles Evaded: 2
Ingenuity: Switch
Game Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iYV9xhUAW4
Number 6: Dennis Ombachi (Kenya vs Zimbabwe Olympic Qualifier (2015))
The hand-off master was it again during the Olympic qualifier tournament in Harare, Zimbabwe. In the final qualifier match, Kenya was trailing Zimbabwe 14–17 and on the buzzer Dennis Ombachi sprint the width of the field with two hand-offs and evading two other tackles making a try that sent Kenya to the Rio Olympics. Match ended Kenya 19–17 Zimbabwe.
Significance: Olympic qualification
Distance Covered: 95 meters
Tackles Evaded: 4
Ingenuity: Hand-off & Sidestep
Match highlight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKbJTIDWLCU
Number 5: Collins Injera (Kenya vs South Africa Group stage (2009) — Wellington 7s)
Kenya had played South Africa 18 times and never won a single match. In this match, Collins Injera try secured Kenya’s first win over South Africa in a match that ended 17–22. Kenya proceeded to their first-ever cup finals where they met South Africa and lost 29–7.
Significance: First win over South Africa
Distance Covered: 10 meters
Tackles Evaded: 1
Ingenuity: Dummy
Match Highlight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn-dnB5E2t4
Number 4: Dennis Mwanja (Kenya vs England Cup Quater Finals (2007) — San Diego 7s)
Dennis Mwanja scored a hat trick to sink England 17–7 thus sending Kenya to the first-ever cup semi-finals in the IRB Sevens circuit. The last try tries by Mwanja saw him evade three tackles and sprint over 50 meters to touchdown the ball.
Significance: First Cup Semi-Final
Distance Covered: 60 meters
Tackles Evaded: 3
Ingenuity: Double Sidestep
Match Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1XAUycXbtc&t=414s
Number 3: Willy Ambaka (Kenya vs South Africa Cup Quater Finals (2013) — Wellington 7s )
This was the first time Kenya beat South Africa at a cup level (quarter finals). Willy Ambaka’s try helped Kenya beat South Africa 20–21 to proceeded to the cup semi-finals. They managed to beat New Zealand and proceeded to their second main cup final where they narrowly lost to England.
Significance: First win over South Africa at the main cup
Distance Covered: 80 meters
Tackles Evaded: 1
Ingenuity: Hit
Match Compilations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI2HzDfGz8E&t=411s
Number 2: Oscar Ouma (Kenya vs New Zealand Cup Semi Final (2013) — Wellington 7s)
The sensational try scored by Oscar Ouma against New Zealand in sudden death to send Kenya into the main cup final. A lot of the emotional part of the try emanated from the fact that Kenya beat New Zealand in their own country.
Significance: Proceed to main cup finals
Distance Covered: 20 meters
Tackles Evaded: 1
Ingenuity: Hit
Number 1: Nelson Oyoo (Kenya vs Fiji Cup Final (2016) — Singapore 7s)
No one can forget Kenya’s first historic win of the main cup in Singapore against Fiji. Nelson Oyoo made the try that finally sank Fiji and confirmed Kenya as the winner of the cup. His brilliant solo run across half the field evading two tries crowns our best Kenya 7s tries.
Significance: Win main cup finals
Distance Covered: 80 meters
Tackles Evaded: 2
Ingenuity: Double Sidestep
Try video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW5PqIW9vKA
