NAIROBI, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's 15s rugby head coach Ian Snook has made four changes to his team ahead of their match against Uganda here on Saturday.
The two countries will have no love lost between them as they clash aiming to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019 alive and also seek to claim bragging rights as the regional champions of the Elgon Cup.
Kenya, who survived a late scare from Zimbabwe last week in their 45-36 win, have moved to remedy that and will give Jacob Ojee and Vincent Mose starting roles.
Ojee is remembered for scoring the opening try as Kenya beat Uganda 34-16 in Kampala on May 26.
Ojee and Mose make their first starts of the campaign after missing the opening two rounds due to school commitments.
Ojee will be slotted in on the left wing while Mose has been handed a role to start as one of the fullbacks.
Former Kenya Sevens international Felix Ayange has also been called to the 15s team, landing his first test cap and will be starting on the right wing while Oliver Mang'eni has been reinstated to the starting line after coming off the bench against Zimbabwe.
Mang'eni takes the place of Malcolm Onsando, who is rested alongside Edmund Anya, Tony Onyango, Max Kang'eri and Curtis Lilako.
Starting on the bench will be Biko Adema, Hillary Mwanjilwa alongside France based Simon Muniafu, who could make his first appearance of the season.
Then Kenyan team is coming into the match off the back of two top performances - a 28-24 win away to Morocco on June 23 in Casablanca and 45-36 victory against Zimbabwe in Nairobi.
This has placed Kenya second on the log with eight points. They are seven points adrift of titleholders Namibia with three games to play. Namibia, on 15 points, have already dismissed Morocco, Zimbabwe and Tunisia.
After Saturday's clash against Uganda, the qualification campaign will take a break for one month and resume with Kenya hosting Tunisia before traveling to Windhoek to face hosts and defending champions Namibia in their final match on Aug 18.
The winner of the round robin matches qualifies for next year's Rugby World Cup in Japan with the second placed team heading for the World Repecharge tournament alongside other teams from Europe, Asia/Latin and America. The winner of the tourney will also sail through to the World Cup finals in Japan.
