Lionesses hunt for World Cup slot in SA

Lioness sevens' Janet Okello during training at RFU grounds, March 28, 2019. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

National women’s rugby 15s team, Lionesses, begin their pursuit for the Africa Women’s Cup when they face Madagascar at the Bosman Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, today.

Hosts South Africa and Uganda are the other nations competing in the four-team tournament, which doubles up as a qualifying event for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Kenya captain Philadelphia Orlando downplayed suggestions that today’s 2 pm opener against the Indian Ocean Islanders will be a walk in the park for the Lionesses.

Odds are firmly stuck against Madagascar, who are making their debut in international women’s 15s rugby. On paper, they are the weakest side at the showpiece which runs until next Saturday.

“We are not going there to underrate any side because Madagascar are equally tough,” Orlando said after Kenya’s team for the continental showpiece was named last week.

“We have been working hard in the past two months and I believe we are good to go. Our target is to go to the World Cup and that’s why we are going to compete favourably,” said Orlando.

Kenya lie 28th on the World rankings while the Makis, as the Madagascar team is fondly referred to, are yet to be included in the ranking system since they have never played international test rugby.

“Kenya, our first opponent, is naturally a sporting nation. In our case, our size is not our strong point and that’s why we will catch up with our agility, our quality of play (technical and tactical) and our cohesion,” Madagascar coach Ravoavahy Nirina told World Rugby.

The match, which will be officiated by Ugandan referee Saudah Adiru, will serve as a curtain-raiser for the second tie of the day which will see tournament favourites South Africa clash with Uganda’s Lady Cranes.

The South Africans, ranked 11th globally, are the best team on the African continent while Uganda occupy 44th position in the World Rugby ranking.

The winners of the event, which is Africa’s inaugural Women’s World Cup qualifier, will book an automatic ticket to the World Cup while the runner-up will play South American opposition in a one-off playoff whose winner will then advance to a four-team repechage tournament next year to try and seal qualification to the global event.