SA7s Pool B squads: RSA, KEN, CAN, ESP
Photo: Stephan Dippenaar has been ruled out of his home event in South Africa through injury
South Africa – Series ranking: 3rd (Cup runners-up in Dubai)
Springbok Sevens head coach Neil Powell has called Steven Hunt and Kwagga Smith into his squad in Port Elizabeth to replace the injured Stephan Dippenaar and Jamba Ulengo.
Dippenaar was ruled out of action with a hamstring injury in Dubai, while Ulengo (foot) also misses their home Cell C Nelson Mandela Bay SA Sevens.
Franke Horne (leg) passed a late fitness test to make Powell’s squad, as they look to build on their Cup final appearance and win a first-ever home tournament on the Series.
Hunt and Smith were all in action in Dubai where they helped the SA Sevens Academy team defend their Dubai Invitational title for a fourth successive time.
One to watch: Cecil Afrika is still a menance but increasingly SA work off Branco du Preez and Justin Geduld
Kenya – Series ranking: 6th (Cup quarter-finalists in Dubai)
Former Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu has also been forced to make changes to his Kenya side.
Philip Wamae and Michael Wanjala are unavailable due to injury, while Patrice Agunda must sit exams and their places in the Kenya team are taken by Davis Chenge, Billy Odhiambo and Dan Sikuta.
Experienced flyer Collins Injera led from the front with a strong performance in Dubai, making the fans’ Dream Team. He now sits fourth on the all-time Series try-scoring list, with 165.
One to watch: Captain Andrew Amonde leads magnificently and will be pleased to welcome back Billy Odhiambo as a foil for Collins Injera.
Canada – Series ranking: 11th (Bowl semi-finalists in Dubai)
Canada took the eventual Cup champions Fiji to the wire in their pool clash in Dubai and also had scrum-half Phil Mack in the fans’ Dream Team.
Ahead of the Port Elizabeth tournament coach Geraint John has been forced into two changes through injury, Pat Kay and debutant Duncan Maguire coming in to replace Connor Braid and Lucas Hammond.
One to watch: Even after all these years playmaker Phil Mack is still Canada’s heartbeat. Captain John Moonlight is part of a strong forward pack.
Spain – Series ranking: 15th (Shield runners-up in Dubai)
Coach Jesus Delgado names an unchanged squad from the 12 that competed in Dubai, featuring the recall of some of the country’s best players in Pablo Feijoo, Ignacio Martin and Jaike Carter.
He will be looking for more from his players, though, who currently occupy that automatic relegation place, ranked 15th of the current core teams.
One to watch: Big wing Ignacio Martin is a great player to have back in the side.
Courtesy of IRB
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