One of the more intriguing warm-ups for the WXV; just a pity that it couldn’t have been held in Kenya. The Boks already had the advantage of higher ranking, 12th/23rd, and a place in WXV2 as against WXV3.

And they had superiority where it matters, up front. When Aimee Barrett-Theron offered them a free kick, they opted for a tap and drive which brought them an immediate try. It went to the returning Veroeshka Grain.

By the quarter-mark the Boks had eased into a 19-0 lead. Then drama: as a Kenyan clearance kick was safely gathered, the inside pass was less safely launched. It fell into the lap of Diana Kemunto, who had a long road to travel to the line. Bok cover zoomed ever closer, but as a tackle came in, Stella Wafula was freed to drop over the line. The conversion was good. (19-7)

The Lionesses had their best spell now. They built nice phases in attack, shifting the ball safely, recycling when necessary. Then Ann Goretti made a glorious break through midfield. As she was held just short of the line, the ball was released to Stella Wafula who went over to complete a magical move.
Sadly for them, that proved to be their pinnacle of success. The Boks scored another try before the break, then the second half showed the Kenyan management what still needs improvement.

A torrent of tries to the home team revealed a lack of fitness and stamina, to name but two.

The authorities watching on will be concerned by the number of penalties the visitors gave away. This was always likely to be a thorny problem, especially in WXV3, where players are much less used to top-class refereeing and the standards required. AB-T may even have let the Kenyans off the tightest leash as their defensive lines wilted.

Their one relief is that 10-place difference in ranking. Of the six nations comprising WXV3 only Ireland will be totally familiar with the need to stay squeaky clean under pressure.

Result: South Africa 77 Kenya 12 (half-time 24-12) Teams:

South Africa:

Byrhandrè Dolf, Veroeshka Grain, Jakkie Cilliers, Piwokuhle Nyanda, Unathi Mali, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Rumandi Potgieter, Lusanda Dumke, Catha Jacobs, Nompumelelo Mathe, Danelle Lochner, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Babalwa Latsha (captain), Roseline Botes, Yonela Ngxingolo

Bench:
Micke Gunter, Asithandile Ntoyanto, Amber Schonert, Nolusindiso Booi, Vainah Ubisi, Sinelitha Noxeke, Unam Tose, Mary Zulu

Kenya:

Diana Omosso, Sharon Auma, Prisca Nyerere, Grace Okulu, Stella Wafula, Ann Goretti, Judith Okumu, Rose Otieno, Knight Otwoma, Natasha Emali, Naomi Jelagat, Faith Livoi, Enid Ouma (captain), Diana Kemunto, Phoebe Akinyi

Bench:
Naomi Muhanji, Evelyn Kalemera, Mercy Migongo, Hesla Khisa, Michelle Akinyi, Winnie Awino, Naomi Amuguni, Esther Juma

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)

Afterthoughts

Barrett-Theron caught up with Sara Cox’s record-breaking 35 test matches as referee.

As the Boks show every sign of forging ahead, it’s vital that the 50-odd other African nations don’t get left behind. There are several that are showing real progress, from Morocco to Madagascar. WXV is merely a first stepping-stone towards rising standards.

But the two nations involved today are the only African representatives in the new world tournament.

It was an unforgettable occasion for the new-look World Cup in Nairobi’s national stadium. Kenya’s Lionesses met Los Tucanes from Colombia for the first time after an infinity of delay. On the result would hang their hopes for a place in the final stages in New Zealand.

It was impossible to read the runes. Colombia were playing thousands of miles from home on their first trip abroad. Kenya had suffered a string of losses, though their latest, against the Springboks, was by the narrow margin of 22-29.

The one pity was the absence of spectators. At least it allowed the cameras to admire the stadium whose terraces are decked out in the national colours.

The Game

Kenya went straight on the attack, and it took the Colombians nearly ten minutes to find their way out of their own half.

As the game developed, Los Tucanes showed greater awareness of the short route to the target. The home team, more adept at Sevens, had plenty of possession, but couldn’t profit from powerful drives.

Their attacks foundered on risky offloads that put the receiver under pressure.

And the Colombians had the greater strength at the set scrum. This gave them the launch-pad for nicely constructed attacks; twice these led to penalties which the left winger, Maria Arzuaga. knocked over. (0-6)

Half-time was approaching as the visitors put together their best attack thus far; it started from another dominant scrum. the back-row drove on; the ball was repossessed several times, then swung down the line to Arzuaga, who took her chance well in the left corner. (0-11)

Then right on 40 minutes Kenya developed a great attack. As the ball came out to Bernadette Olesia, she drove for the line but was held. The ball was recycled to No 8 Leah Wambui, who thrust straight over the line. Grace Adhiambo (No 10) added two vital points to reduce the gap to

Half-time: Kenya 7 Colombia 11

Kenya came out strongly in the second half. Adhiambo potted a penalty conceded by a deliberate knock-on, then Wambui made a great break. Fine handling took the ball into the Colombian 22 and from there Janet Okello (No 13) took a quick tap penalty to stride through for a vital try. (15-11)
Kenya’s chances had a setback when Wambui then Mitchelle Akinyi both received yellow cards. The Colombians didn’t run away with the game, but they did manage one try which turned out to be decisive. Arzuaga was again responsible, making her the sole contributor to her side’s points total. (15-16)

The teams did well to keep up the demanding pace. The last quarter saw possession switch constantly and both ends of the pitch come under threat.

A driving turnover in the 79th minute showed how determined the Lionesses were to achieve a final match-winning score. Then they won a penalty 35 metres out. Rather than risk an unlikely kick at goal they opted for a tap-and-go. The next moment they were themselves penalised. Los Tucanes rejoiced.

They go through to the next repechage stages where they will compete against Europe 2, Asia 2 and Samoa for a final place in New Zealand.

Result: Kenya 15 Colombia 16
Referee: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)

Photo: Alex Burbano / Fecorugby and Arigi Obiero

On a bright, sunny day in Nairobi, Kenya and Colombia came together for the first time in a women’s international to compete for a place at the Final Qualification Tournament for Rugby World Cup 2021.

Homefield advantage and a World Rugby Women’s Ranking five places higher than their opponents had Kenya marked down as favourites before kick-off, but the Lionesses’ high error and penalty count, and three yellow cards, hurt them badly.

After both teams had missed their first penalty attempts at goal, Maria Arzuaga made no mistake from in front of the posts to put her side 3-0 up in the 18th minute of their first international match since March 2020 and first away from home.

She then kicked another shortly after Kenya captain Juliet Nyambura had been sent to the sin-bin as a result of persistent team offences.

Photo: Alex Burbano / Fecorugby and Arigi Obiero

The misfiring Kenyans conceded a further five points while their first-choice loose-head prop was off the field, and it was Arzuaga who again got her name on the scoresheet, the left winger crossing in the corner after good hands from tight-head Alejandra Betancur and fly-half Camila Lopera.

Lopera was unable to land the difficult conversion and the score stayed at 11-0 to the visitors until, at last, Kenya managed to keep their heads, and the ball, in attack.

Enid Ouma and Bernadette Olesia were stopped inches short but Colombia were powerless to prevent fellow forward, number eight Leah Wambui, from crashing over on the stroke of half-time. Grace Adhiambo Okulu converted to reduce the gap to just four points at the break.

Double Yellow Costs Kenya

With Olympian Sinaida Aura Omondi seeing more of the ball, Kenya started to make inroads in the Colombian defence. A dangerous run from the winger ended with her inside pass being deliberately knocked forward by Leidy Soto. Okulu’s kick from the resulting penalty hit the far upright but still went over.

Kenya continued to up the tempo, and after a strong run out of defence by Wambui, the Lionesses forced a penalty inside the Colombian half. It was quickly taken and Janet Okello used her strength and pace to join fellow Tokyo 2020 Olympian Wambui on the scoresheet.

A high tackle from Wambui in the 55th minute, deemed worthy of a yellow card, checked Kenya’s momentum. And worse was to come five minutes later when Zimbabwean referee Precious Pazani reached into her pocket again and dispatched flanker Michelle Akinyi to the sidelines for 10 minutes.

The 13 players of Kenya were under intolerable pressure, and from a dominant scrum five metres out, Colombia scrum-half Andrea Ramirez launched a blindside move which was finished off by Arzuaga, to put Las Tucanes ahead by the narrowest of margins.

With a couple of minutes remaining, Kenya had an opportunity to kick for goal when awarded a penalty just over 35 metres out, but they chose to tap it instead and the move came to nothing when they went off their feet at the resulting breakdown.

To their delight, Colombia managed to see the game out and can now look forward to competing against Samoa and two other teams – one from Asia and one from Europe – for the last ticket to Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand. The date and venue for the Final Qualification Tournament has yet to be confirmed.

One thing that will be confirmed on Monday, at 12 noon BST, is a new record high of 26th place for Colombia in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings.

Las Tucanes will also be the higher-ranked of the two teams, with Kenya dropping three places to 28th as a result of their sixth consecutive defeat

Photos: Alex Burbano / Fecorugby and Arigi Obiero

Courtesy of World Rugby

Permutation highlights:

• Kenya cannot improve on 25th position with victory as they will still trail Trinidad and Tobago by at least 2.12 rating points
• The Lionesses will fall either three or five places in defeat, depending on the margin
• Colombia will be the higher ranked of the two nations if they win, climbing four to a new high of 26th
• If Colombia win by more than 15 points the sides will simply swap places with Las Tucanes taking over 25th spot and Kenya falling to 30th

VIEW WORLD RANKINGS >>

Match officials:

• The match will be refereed by Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)

Team news highlights:

• Kenya have made three personnel and one positional change from the side beaten 29-22 by South Africa on 16 August, two of the changes necessitated by injury with Sheila Chajira and Camila Atieno ruled out
• There are seven Tokyo 2020 Olympians in Kenya’s starting line-up with an eighth on the bench
• Colombia’s starting line-up shows only one change from their last test match in March 2020 with Camila Lopera at fly-half
• Ten members of Colombia’s match-day squad played in the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco in June, including Leidy Soto who was named one of the Unstoppables in World Rugby’s ‘Try and Stop Us’ campaign in May 2019

Courtesy of World Rugby

Key highlights:

• It is not possible for South Africa to gain any rating points due to the 19.72-point differential between the teams before home weighting is factored in
• South Africa can only drop down the rankings if they are beaten by more than 15 points
• Russia and Kazakhstan will each move up a place if that happens with the Springbok Women falling to 15th
• Kenya will move above Trinidad and Tobago and into 24th if they win by such a margin, equalling their best-ever position.
• But they will remain as they are, in 25th, if they win by 15 points or less

Match Officials

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron
Assistant Referees: Ashleigh Murray-Pretorius, Dylan November

Lead photo shows Kenya Olympic Sevens Team

Courtesy of World Rugby