NAIROBI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Kenya 15s captain, George Nyambua has backed the country's much-changed side to beat Hong Kong, China in the World Rugby Test clash in Nairobi on Sunday.
Hong Kong, China is due to arrive in Kenya later Friday for the two Tests that have implications in World Rugby rankings, the second being played at the same Rugby Football Union of East Africa (RFUEA) Grounds on Aug. 26.
Nyambua who plays as a lock for local club Kabras Sugar RFC, was handed the skipper's armband for the first time by South African head coach, Jerome Paarwater.
Paarwater made 17 changes to the team that led Kenya to a runner-up finish in the 2017 Africa Gold Cup by losing 7-45 to Namibia in Windhoek in the final game of the round robin competition on Jul. 29.
Nyambua, who has been handed the skipper's role for both legs of the Test matches against Hong Kong, China, is set to be deployed on the flank by Paarwater who included six debutants in his squad of 23.
"When you look at the team, it is very different from the one that played the last two matches of the Africa Gold Cup versus Zimbabwe and Namibia.
"For me, it doesn't make much difference because anybody who comes in comes in the capacity of a national team player," Nyambua stated.
James Kubasu, Philip Ikambili, Emmanuel Mavala, Elkeans Musonye, Brad Owako and Alex Olaba are the players set to make their debut.
"However you look at it, the players want to bounce back to winning ways, that is the mentality of the team starting with our first match on Sunday," Nyambua added.
Kenya will be using the matches to prepare for Nov. four nations Test series in Hong Kong and the 2019 World Cup qualifiers set to begin next year.
Kenya, ranked 25th by World Rugby, has been invited to the fifth edition of the Hong Kong Cup of Nations slated for Nov. 10 to 18.
Champion Russia (21), Chile (27) and the hosts complete the line-up.
