RWC 2021 Qualifier Preview: Kazakhstan vs Colombia

The Rugby World Cup 2021 Final Qualification Tournament kicks off today (19 February 2022) at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai with Asian hopefuls Kazakhstan taking on South American qualifiers Colombia.

With the format for the qualification tournament announced late in 2021, following the withdrawal of Samoa and Hong Kong due to COVID, only three teams are still in the running to grab the last spot for the RWC 2021 (played in 2022) in New Zealand from  8 October – 12 November 2022.

The winner of Kazakhstan v Colombia today will play Scotland to compete for the last remaining place on 25^th February 2022.

Kazakhstan – RWC 2021 Qualifier

World Rugby Ranking: 15

Kazakhstan has participated in six previous RWC tournaments.

This will be Kazakhstan’s first match since a 15-0 win over China in Qian’an in August 2019. Kazakhstan beat China 23-13 on aggregate over two legs in the Asia Rugby Women’s Division 1 play-off to earn a place in the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship 2020. In total though, the women XV team have only played four matches since Rugby World Cup 2014 in France!

Kazakhstan’s squad contains players with previous Rugby World Cup experience. Lyudmila Sherer, the most-capped player with 30 appearances, Veronika Stepanyuga, Nigora Nurmatova, Kundyzay Baktybayeva, Balzhan Koishybayeva and Natalya Kamendrovskaya have all competed on the game’s greatest stage.

Centre Alina Askerova and full-back Yekaterina Kamenkova scored tries in Kazakhstan’s last outing, the 15-0 win over China – which kept them in the hunt for a place at RWC 2021, and are also included in the touring party.

All bar three of the squad come from Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest metropolis.

Coach Anna Yakovleva also has Rugby World Cup pedigree, playing in four Rugby World Cups from 2002-14, and last year coached Kazakhstan’s sevens team to within one win of a place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Yakovleva’s assistant, Svetlana Klyuchnikova, also played in three Rugby World Cups (2006-14).

Kazakhstan squad for RWC 2021 Final Qualification Tournament:

• Coach: Anna Yakovleva
• Captain: Karina Sazantova

Veronika Stepanuyga, Nigora Nurmatova, Alina Askerova, Daiana Kazibekova, Galina Krassavina, Yekaterina Kamenkova, Kundyzay Baktybayeva, Anzhelika Pichugina, Akzharkynay Zholdaspayeva, Balzhan Koishibayeva, Darya Tkachyova, Lyudmila Sherer, Karina Sazintova (captain), Natalya Kamendrovskaya, Liliya Kibisheva, Adina Makhsutova, Moldir Ashkat, Xeniya Kim, Alyona Drobovskaya, Milana Alayeva, Svetlana Malezhina, Blazhan Akhbayeva, Darya Simakova, Anastassiya Khodus, Yekaterina Ardashirova, Anna Melnikova, Amina Tulegenova, Diana Abisheva, Yelena Yurova, Svetlana Obukhoya.

Colombia – RWC 2021 Qualifier

World Rugby Ranking: 26

For Colombia, New Zealand would be their first Rugby World Cup. They have won their three previous test matches against Brazil (twice) and Kenya – all since Kazakhstan played their last test in August 2019.

Colombia are captained by Leidy Soto and as one of the original World Rugby ‘Unstoppables’, Soto has taken over the captaincy from Nicole Acevedo, who led Las Tucanes to the 16-15 victory against Kenya in Nairobi that confirmed their place in Dubai.

The 29-player squad contains three players who appeared at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Alejandra Betancur, Camila Lopera and Isabel Romero.

Lopera, Romero and Soto, meanwhile, are among eight women included who played in the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco last June.

Colombia will look to exciting winger Maria Isabel Arzuaga to give them a cutting edge out wide. Arzuaga scored all 16 of her side’s points in that win over the Lionesses.

Colombia squad for RWC 2021 Final Qualification Tournament:

• Coach: Lissete Martinez
• Captain: Leidy Soto

Alejandra Betancur, Angela Alzate Moncada, Natalia Barajas, Ailyn Carolina Andrioly Gonzalez, Maribel Mestra, Julieth Tatiana Hernandez, Laura Valentina Alvarez Silva, Catalina Arango, Yamileth Andrea Ramirez Agudelo, Camila Lopera, Laura Mejia, Valentina Tapias, Valeria Muñoz Cuartas, Isabel Romero, Leidy Soto (captain), Maria Isabel Arzuaga, Leidy García, Yina Marcela Quintero Verjel, Annagith Marsellis Vargas Torres, Juliana Soto, Gales Daian Avendaño, Gisel Tatiana Gomez Gomez, Silvia Juliana Olave Garrido, Lizbeth Joanna Brant Restrepo, Maira Alejandra Martínez, Maira Atonia Cortes, María Camila Castrillón, Angie Manyoma, Gloribeth Campos.

Image Credit: World Rugby

Match Officials

Kat Roche will be the referee for Kazakhstan vs Colombia match.

• Referee: Kat Roche (USA)
• AR1: Amber McLachlan (Australia)
• AR2: Shanda Assmus (Canada)
• TMO: Ian Tempest (England)

Where can you watch the RWC 2021 Qualifier?

World Rugby is streaming the matches on their website, Facebook and YouTube on Saturday, 19 February – KO 16:30 local time (12:30 GMT).

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