There were not many positives for Kazakhstan in their 109-0 thumping at the hands of the Irish in their opening match of WXV 3 in Dubai, and Kenya will pose a different threat on Friday 20th October 2023 as both sides look for a first win.
Spain beat the lower-ranked Kenya in WXV 3 in their opening fixture, and the African side, much like the Kazakhs, remained scoreless by the end of the 32-0 loss.
The Kazakhs are ranked higher in the latest World Rugby Rankings of the two sides for Friday’s clash at The Emirates Stadium in Dubai, and it will be the first time the two play each other in an international test, but how Kazakhstan try and bounce back from such a defeat last weekend will be telling.
The Asia Rugby Women’s Championship 2023 runners-up conceded 17 tries in their loss – the biggest-ever test loss for the proud nation and it means they have failed to score in their last two tests, against Japan and Ireland. Last weekend they only managed twice to get into the Ireland 22m area with the ball in hand.
New head coach Makhabbat Tugambekova has made two personnel and eight positional changes to the starting line-up to face Kenya. She will hope for a much better performance all around as her side only had a completion tackle rate of 63% against the Irish, missing 53 tackles!
Kazakhstan conceded 17 tries in their opening loss to Ireland – WXV 3 2023
Discipline will also need to be improved as they suffered two yellow cards, Captain Karina Sazontova (charging at the ruck) and Anna Chebotar (high tackle) were sent to the sin-bin in the second half.
Hooker Moldir Askhat, second-row Anna Chebotar, blindside flanker Tatyana Kruchinkina, scrum-half Daiana Kazibekova and fly-half Kundyzay Baktybayeva are the only players who will face the Lionesses wearing the same jersey number as the opening match.
Second-row Darya Simakova and winger Alyona Melnikova drop out of the team, and loose-head prop Yelena Yurova and full-back Gulim Bakytpek join the starting XV.
Kenya captain Knight Otwoma is out of the game due to injury, and Enid Ouma resumes the captaincy as well as coming into the back row at blindside. Naomi Kemei makes the move from the second row to number eight.
Maureen Chebet will make her first test start at The Sevens Stadium, and Terry Isabwa comes into the back three on the right wing. The greater Kenya squad has seen the addition of 5 players who were involved in the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens Olympic qualification last weekend.
There are several areas the Kenyans will want to improve, but The Lionesses gave away 16 penalties against Spain, more than any other team in the opening round of WXV 3.
There is no news on whether the Kazakh Nomads have called up any cover from their sevens team who were in action in Bangkok last weekend at the ARSS 2023.
Adèle Robert (Belgium) is the match referee.
Match Permutations – WXV 3 Kazakhstan vs Kenya
- Kazakhstan can’t improve their rating this weekend with a victory over lower-ranked Kenya.
- A Kenya win would see them climb one place to a new high of 22nd with Kazakhstan dropping to 20th.
Kazakhstan Squad – Kazakhstan vs Kenya – WXV 3 2023 Friday 20th October 2023
Gulim Bakytpek; Darya Tkachyova, Yeva Bekker, Lyudmila Ivanova, Liliya Kibisheva; Kundyzay Baktybayeva,
Daiana Kazibekova; Yelena Yurova, Moldir Askhat, Natalya Kamendrovskaya, Anna Chebotar, Symbat Zhamankulova, Tatyana Kruchinkina, Tatyana Dadajanova, Karina Sazontova (captain).
Replacements: Karina Tankisheva, Balzhan Akhbayeva, Yuliya Oleinikova, Svetlana Malezhina, Kuralay Turalykova, Anastassiya Yevdokimova, Daria Kuznetsova, Milana Kotova.
Kenya Squad – Kazakhstan vs Kenya – WXV 3 2023 Friday 20th October 2023
Freshia Odour; Terry Isabwa, Prisca Nyerere, Laurine Otieno, Esther Juma; Ann Ochieng, Diana Omosso; Rose Otieno, Staycy Atieno, Natasha Emali, Maureen Chebet, Faith Livoi, Enid Ouma (captain), Diana Nyairo, Naomi Kemei.
Replacements: Naomi Muhanji, Mercy Migongo, Evelyne Luganu, Hesslah Khisa, Phoebe Otieno, Judith Okumu, Grace Okulu, Mitchelle Owuor
WXV 2023 News
- WXV 3 Team Guide – Kazakhstan Nomads Challenging For The Title In Dubai?
- WXV 2 2023 Team Guide – Can Japan Win in South Africa?
- WXV 2023 Complete Guide.
- Kazakhstan vs Ireland – WXV 3 2023 Match Preview.
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