The Springbok Women head into their final match of the season with a slim chance of finishing top of the WXV 2 standings, but a central focus will also simply revolve around continued progress as a team.
South Africa opened their campaign two weekends ago with a good win over Japan and pushed Australia all the way last Saturday, and the team now heads into an all-important season-ending fixture.
This Saturday’s clash at Athlone Stadium kicks off at 14:00.
TEAM CHANGES FOR SPRINGBOK WOMEN
Nomawethu Mabenge (wing) and the uncapped Nombuyekezo Mdliki (prop) have been drafted into the matchday squad as injury replacements.
Mabenge will slot straight into the right-wing berth held by Jakkie Cilliers against Japan and Australia and will start in her 18th Test, while Mdliki, a former Junior Springbok Women prop, will be in line to make her Test debut off the bench.
Cilliers, Libbie Janse van Rensburg and Maceala Samboya all picked up injuries in the last week and were ruled out of Saturday’s Test, with Mabenge and Mdliki joining the official squad.
Swys de Bruin and his coaching staff made a couple of changes to the starting side that just fell short against the Wallaroos last weekend, mostly in the pack, where Nolusindiso Booi returns as captain, resulting in a straight swop with Danelle Lochner, who reverts to being one of the impact players.
Last weekend’s captain, Lusanda Dumke, remains at flanker in a new loose forward combination with Catha Jacobs (flanker) and Sizophila Solontsi (No 8), with the duo swopping places with Sinazo Mcatshulwa and Aseze Hele, who will finish the game.
The experienced front row of Yonela Nxingolo, Lindelwa Gwala and Babalwa Latsha will be reunited for the first time since July 2022 when they fronted up against Japan in Kamaishi.
Gwala has recovered from the calf strain that kept her out of the first two WXV clashes, and replaces Roseline Botes at hooker, while Nxingolo swops roles with Sanelisiwe Charie, who started the first two games of the tournament. Mdliki comes in for Azisa Mkiva on the bench.
Mabenge’s selection and the return of Tayla Kinsey at scrumhalf are the only changes in the backline.
Team to face Italy in Cape Town:
15. Eloise Webb (Border Ladies) – 13 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
14. Nomawethu Mabenge (Boland Dames) – 17 caps, 70 points (14 tries)
13. Zintle Mpupha (Bulls Daisies) – 23 caps, 106 points (20 tries, 3 conversions)
12. Chumisa Qawe (Bulls Daisies) – 18 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
11. Ayanda Malinga (Bulls Daisies) – 10 caps, 55 points (10 tries)
10. Nadine Roos (unattached) – 14 caps, 31 points (5 tries, 3 conversions)
9. Tayla Kinsey (vice-captain; Sharks Women) – 37 caps, 48 points (2 tries, 16 conversions, 2 penalty goals)
8. Sizophila Solontsi (Bulls Daisies) – 24 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
7. Catha Jacobs (Leicester Tigers Women) – 18 caps, 5 points (1 try)
6. Lusanda Dumke (Bulls Daisies) – 32 caps, 50 points (10 tries)
5. Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daisies) – 17 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
4. Nolusindiso Booi (captain, DHL Western Province) – 48 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
3. Babalwa Latsha (Harlequins Women) – 32 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
2. Lindelwa Gwala (Ealing Trailfinders) – 34 caps, 70 points (14 tries)
1. Yonela Ngxingolo (Bulls Daisies) – 31 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Replacements:
16. Micke Gunter (Bulls Daisies) – 10 caps, 5 points, 1 try
17. Sanelisiwe Charlie (Bulls Daisies) – 21 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
18. Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – uncapped
19. Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) – 15 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
20. Sinazo Mcatshulwa (DHL Western Province) – 34 caps, 50 points (10 tries)
21. Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 24 caps, 50 points (10 tries)
22. Unam Tose (Bulls Daisies) – 22 Tests, 5 points (1 try)
23. Byrhandrè Dolf (Bulls Daisies) – 15 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Selected Springbok Women stats:
- Nolusindiso Booi will extend her record as the most-capped Springbok Women’s player with 49 Test caps.
- Tayla Kinsey will extend her record for the most-capped Springbok Women scrumhalf to 38. She is also South Africa’s second most-capped women’s player in history.
- Lindelwa Gwala will extend her record for the most-capped Springbok Women hooker to 35.
- Nombuyekezo Mdliki will become Springbok Women’s player #175 when she takes the field.
ARE YOU ENCOURAGED BY THE TEAM’S PERFORMANCES OF LATE?
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