Kenya Lionesses head coach Dennis Mwanja has made one change to the squad ahead of the South Africa clash at the Stade Makis in Antananarivo, Madagascar on Wednesday.
Enid Ouma replaces Phoebe Akinyi in the back row with the rest of the squad intact.
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.
Mwanja said, “The South Africa game will be more physical and tactical. I’ve watched them play and they are very good at spreading the ball wide and also very good at defending. Denying them possession and curtailing their moves will give us an edge.”
The KCB assistant coach said the girls are ready for what is expected to be a bruising battle against the South Africans.
“We had two training sessions and we are relishing the challenge for what is expected to be a tough battle. ”
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 Hellenistic, South Africa.
South Africa won 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.
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.
The events are intended to revolutionise the women’s international rugby landscape and for the first time, provide a meaningful pathway for all unions and a competitive springboard towards an expanded 16-team Rugby World Cup in 2025.
