Argentina vs Kenya Prediction & Betting Tips - Men's Olympics Rugby

Prediction published on 23/07/2024, 14:51  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 23/07/2024 at 14:58 in Predictions

Argentina will be looking to make a winning start to their 2024 Olympics rugby sevens campaign when they face Kenya on Thursday afternoon. Los Pumas are the number-one ranked team in the world, while Kenya are ranked 13th. Pool B in this competition also includes Australia and Samoa. Here’s our match prediction for this opening-day fixture.

Los Pumas have been the best side in the world over the current SVNS cycle and enter this tournament with a record of 36 wins and just eight losses in their last 44 matches in all competitions.

To put that record into perspective, it is worth noting that the team with the next fewest losses over the same period is New Zealand, who have lost 16. However, Argentina did lose their last match 19-5 to France at the SVNS World in Spain last month, bringing an end to a five-match winning streak. 

Over their last 10 games in all competitions, Los Pumas have only lost three times with those defeats coming against Les Bleus, Ireland and Australia. They are also on a seven-match winning streak against this opponent dating back to March 2019.

While Argentina have ruled the World Rugby Sevens stage over the last year, Kenya, on the other hand, reclaimed their place at the global event after excelling in the Challenger Series.

They secured their place at the 2024 Olympics at the Rugby Africa Men's Sevens 2023 tournament where they beat favourites South Africa 17-12 to become the ninth team to book their tickets to Paris. 

At 13th in the world, the Simbas are the third-lowest-ranked side at this year’s Olympics, only ahead of Japan and Uruguay. Over their last 10 matches, Kenya have won six and lost four, though six of those matches were against African nations.