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The final qualification spot for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France will be determined over the next three weeks in Dubai. Four teams will vie for their place in a round-robin format, with the USA, Portugal, Hong Kong, and Kenya representing their respective regions. The Americas competitive, the USA begins against Kenya on Sunday.
Click here to access the RWC 2023 Qualifiers – Repechage Tournament ARN Guide.
Kenya prepared for the World Cup Qualifiers by training at altitude. The Kenyans have put together a game plan to be competitive around the field. They are looking to play with pace and tire the opposition.
The team is similar to that which faced Namibia in the battle to qualify for RWC 2023 as Africa 1. There are two noteworthy alterations from then to now. First, Geoffrey Ominde, who last featured during the Currie Cup starts, at fly half. Second, the fit-again Geoffrey Okwach returns to start on the right wing.
Gary Gold has confidence in his troops. The Eagles Head Coach has named an understrength line-up to take on Kenya. The strategic move will see the USA with cards up their sleeve ahead of the later matches; importantly, ahead of the likely decisive match against Portugal.
The new-look USA side sees the uncapped Jack Iscaro starting at loose head. He joins the seasones Dylan Fawsitt and Paul Mullen in the front-row. The trio all play in Major League Rugby (MLR) as do the five other starting forwards. It is a Houston Sabbercats – NOLA Gold second0row with CC Mahoni and Cam Dolan starting.
The decision to play Dolan out of position at lock frees up a spot in the back-row. Gary Gold has used the opportunity to blood tow players. Viliami Helu and Cory Daniel will both make their test debuts. Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz completes the back-row starting in Dolan’s usual position of N8.
With 60 caps to his name, Dolan has more caps than the seven other starting forwards combined. There is more experience in the backline, though the line-up is very experimental. ATL Rugby scrum-half Ruan Rees will make his test debut as will New England Free Jacks fullback Mitch Wilson.
Regular captain AJ MacGinty will play from the bench. As such, Luke Carty starts at fly half in what will be his 9th cap. The mid-field sees plenty of experience with Marcel Brache captaining the side and the fit-again Paul Lasike back to run like a bull at and through the Simbas defense.
The USA’s replacements will likely give the North Americans an edge. Regular starting players are on it and they include not only seasoned players but many of the USA’s biggest names in Europe today. Toulouse prop David Ainu’u, Newcastle lock Greg Peterson, Saracens scrum-half Ruben De Haas and Bristol fly half AJ MacGinty are all on the bench.
TEAMS
KENYA
1 Patrick Ouko, 2 Eugene Sifuna, 3 Ephraim Oduor, 4 Malcolm Onsando, 5 Thomas Okeyo, 6 George Nyambua, 7 Daniel Sikuta, 8 Bethwel Anami, 9 Samuel Asati, 10 Geoffrey Ominde, 11 Jacob Ojee, 12 John Okoth, 13 Bryceson Adaka, 14 Geoffrey Okwach, 15 Darwin Mukidza
Replacements: 16 Teddy Akala, 17 Andrew Siminyu, 18 Joseph Odero, 19 Brian Juma, 20 Martin Owillah, 21 Brian Tanga, 22 Timothy Omela, 23 Joshua Weru
USA
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 CC Mahoni, 5 Cam Dolan, 6 Viliami Helu, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 9 Ryan Rees, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Nate Augspurger, 12 Paul Lasike, 13 Marcel Brache (Capt.), 14 Christian Dyer, 15 Mitch Wilson
Replacements: 16 Mikey Sosene-Feagai, 17 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 18 David Ainu’u, 19 Greg Peterson, 20 Tesimoni Tonga’uiha, 21 Ruben De Haas, 22 Bryce Campbell, 23 AJ MacGinty
Date: Sunday, November 06
Kick-Off: 4pm (AE); 8am (Eastern)
Venue: Sevens Stadium (Dubai, AE)
Referee: Tual Trainini (FR)
Assistant Referees: Damian Schneider (AR); Eoghan Cross (IE)
TMO: Olly Hodges (UK)
