Story highlights
Kenya unbeaten on first day in Cape Town
Shocks host South Africa in pool play
New Zealand loses to Canada
Fiji and Australia three wins apiece
A country renowned for its long distance runners is making a big impression in the new Olympic sport of rugby sevens.
Kenya stunned host South Africa 14-12 on the first day of the HSBC World Sevens in Cape Town on the way to qualifying as a seed for the quarterfinals Sunday.
Tries from Collins Injera and Williams Ambaka Ndayara, with two conversions from Biko Adema, saw off the Boks.
Kenya backed this up by holding England to a 19-19 draw and booked its passage with a six-try 36-0 rout of Zimbabwe.
It earned the East Africans a tilt at the United States in the battle for a semifinal place.
South Africa recovered to make the last eight, beating England, runner-up to Fiji in the opening round of the series in Dubai, 10-0 in the decider.
The shocks did not end with the Kenyan win as Canada beat an injury-hit New Zealand 24-12 but, unlike Kenya could not capitalize on the result.
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New Zealand recovered to top its pool with a 19-10 win over Samoa to set up a quarterfinal with Argentina.
Sevens powerhouse Fiji and Australia both secured a 100 percent record of three wins apiece Saturday.
Fiji will play France with Australia set for a mouth watering clash with the home side in front of another capacity crowd of 55,000 at the Cape Town Stadium.
The World Sevens series takes in 10 venues, finishing in London next May.
It will be vital preparation for the 12-team Olympic tournament in Rio later in the year.
Kenya recently booked its passage in the Africa qualification event last month.
Women will also compete for medals in Brazil in a two-day event next August under the same format.
