The Kenya Lionesses coach will have two new faces in his starting line-up for the highly-billed friendly match against the Springbok Women on Saturday
Mwamba Ladies RFC’s Faith Livoi and Diana Omosso will make their Kenya Lionesses debut after being included in the match day squad for the test match against hosts South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday.
The two made it into coach Dennis Mwanja’s starting line-up when it was announced on Thursday night with Livoi set to partner Naomi Jelagat in the second row while Omosso will start at fullback.
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Rose Otieno, Knight Otwoma and Natasha Emali will make up the Lionesses' front row while captain Enid Ouma will start at blindside in a backrow that features Diana Kemunto at openside flank while Phoebe Akinyi slots in at number eight.
Lionesses Sevens captain Judith Okumu will start at scrum half, forming a half-back partnership with her Impala team-mate Ann Goretti as Grace Okulu and Prisca Nyerere link up in midfield with Stella Wafula, Sharon Auma, and Omosso completing the back three.
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Meanwhile, frontrow Naomi Muhanji is in line for her debut after being named on the bench that also has the experienced front row duo of Evelyn Kalemera and Mercy Migongo. Hesla Khisa, Michelle Akinyi, Winnie Awino, Naomi Amuguni, and Esther Juma complete the Lionesses bench.
Mwanja had early in the week expressed his excitement at securing two test matches, Saturday’s tie against South Africa and San Clemente Rhinos a week later, saying it is just what his team needs ahead of next month’s WXV3 competition in Dubai.
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“These two matches serve as a build-up to the tournament in Dubai. We will have the team minus the sevens players who are preparing for the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens which take place on the same weekend as the WXV3 opener,” he said on Monday.
“This is therefore an opportunity for us to focus on our depth and build our capacity and experience as the Lionesses. This tour of South Africa is indeed a shot in the arm.
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“We are looking at taking a game at a time. This is unchartered territory for the Lionesses but we are happy to roll with the punches and take in the experience. We are quietly confident, we are happy about the upcoming period of activity.”
This is the second time the Lionesses and Springbok Women are clashing this year, their previous clash in the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Madagascar ended in a 48-0 victory to the South Africans.
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RUGBY Kenya Lionesses: Coach Mwanja buzzing after securing build-up matches in South Africa ahead of inaugural World Rugby WXV3
The Kenya Lionesses coach believes the friendly matches in South Africa will give his side the much-needed exposure before heading to the inaugural tournament in Dubai next month
KENYA LIONESSES MATCH DAY SQUAD VS SOUTH AFRICA: 15. Diana Omosso, 14. Sharon Auma, 13. Prisca Nyerere, 12. Grace Okulu, 11. Stella Wafula, 10. Ann Goretti, 9. Judith Okumu, 1. Rose Otieno, 2. Knight Otwoma,3. Natasha Emali, 4. Naomi Jelagat, 5. Faith Livoi, 6. Enid Ouma (Captain), 7. Diana Kemunto, 8. Phoebe Akinyi. REPLACEMENTS: 16. Naomi Muhanji, 17. Evelyn Kalemera, 18. Mercy Migongo, 19. Hesla Khisa, 20. Michelle Akinyi, 21. Winnie Awino, 22. Naomi Amuguni, 23. Esther Juma.