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Mwanja has also revealed the matchday squad to face South Africa on Wednesday.
Kenya Lionesses head coach Dennis Mwanja has made one change to the lineup that played Madagascar as they take on South Africa in the top-of-the-table clash of the ongoing Rugby Africa Women’s Cup first division tournament in Antananarivo, Madagascar on Wednesday 24 May.
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19:48 - 20.05.2023
RUGBY Lionesses see off hosts Madagascar to begin Rugby Africa Women’s Cup on a high
Kenya were run close but eventually secured the win with Grace Adhiambo and Judith Akumu each scoring a brace.
Enid Ouma has replaced the injured Phoebe Akinyi in the back row as Mwanja has named a largely unchanged side for Wednesday’s clash.
Akinyi was injured in the dying moments of Saturday’s 29-20 opening victory over hosts Madagascar at the same venue and will not be fit in time for this encounter. Hellen Anyango takes up Ouma’s slot on the bench.
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20:31 - 22.05.2023
RUGBY Former Kenya 7s captain Dennis Mwanja aghast after Shujaa lose core status
Shujaa were relegated after defeat to Canada in the Relegation Playoffs.
“The South Africa game will be more physical, more tactical. I’ve watched them play. They are very good in spreading the ball wide and also very good in defending. Denying them possession and contesting everything they put in will give us an edge,” Mwanja said ahead of the clash on Wednesday.
Wednesday’s clash will be the first between the two sides since August 2021 when the South Africans won a two-match test series in Stellenbosch, winning the opening fixture 66-0 before scoring a last-gasp try to claim the second fixture 29-22.
They come into Wednesday’s clash off an 87- 0 win over Cameroon that took them to the top of the table.
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11:10 - 22.05.2023
RUGBY AFRICA WOMEN'S CUP: Mwanja calls for improvement ahead of Lionesses clash with South Africa
The Lionesses beat Madagascar 29-20 but the coach was not entirely convinced with some aspects of their performance.
The winner of this tournament will qualify for the second tier of the newly launched World Rugby WXV with the runner-up qualifying for the third tier of the same competition which is intended to revolutionize the women’s international rugby landscape, providing for the first time a meaningful pathway for all unions and a competitive springboard towards an expanded 16-team Rugby World Cup in 2025.
Lionesses match day squad
15.Ann Goretti, 14. Jean Bisela, 13. Moreen Njoki, 12. Grace Okulu, 11. Stellah Wafula, 10. Sinaida Mokaya, 9. Judith Auma, 1. Natasha Emali, 2. Knight Otwoma, 3. Evelyne Kalemera, 4. Naomi Jelagat, 5. Bernadette Olesia, 6. Diana Kemunto, 7. Enid Ouma, 8. Sheila Chajira (Captain) REPLACEMENTS 16. Michelle Akinyi, 17. Valentine Otieno, 18. Rose Otieno, 19. Nelly Chikombe, 20. Hellen Anyango, 21. Winnie Owino, 22. Terry Ayesa, 23. Diana Awino
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