The Springbok Women have named a largely experienced side for Saturday’s historic clash against the New Zealand Black Ferns, with Babalwa Latsha set to captain the team at FNB Stadium.
South Africa will welcome New Zealand to Johannesburg on Saturday, 5 September, with kick-off scheduled for 13:30. The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
The Test comes at a challenging time for the Springbok Women following the shock resignation of coach Swys de Bruin, with Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September sharing coaching duties for the fixture.
Latsha leads an experienced Springbok Women side
Latsha is one of six forwards selected in the starting XV who featured when the two teams last met in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.
That encounter ended in a heavy 46-17 victory for New Zealand, giving South Africa another opportunity to measure their progress against one of the leading teams in the women’s game.
Latsha will form the front row alongside Sanelisiwe Charlie and Lindelwa Gwala.
Vainah Ubisi joins Danelle Locher in the second row, while Catha Jacobs, Sizophila Solontsi and Aseza Hele make up the loose forwards.
Ubisi and Jacobs were both on the bench when South Africa faced New Zealand at the World Cup and now move into the starting lineup.
New faces given an opportunity
The Springbok Women have also introduced several players who will experience a Test against the Black Ferns for the first time.
Anuschka Groenewald, Nomsa Mokwai, Logan Welman and Shiniqwa Lamprecht are among the forward replacements.
In the backs, Unam Tose gets the starting scrumhalf role in place of the injured Nadine Roos, while Maceala Samboya moves to the replacements.
Alichia Arries starts on the wing, with Anacadia Minnaar providing scrumhalf cover from the bench.
Tose, Minnaar and Arries will all make their first appearances against New Zealand.
Springbok Women refusing to change their identity
Despite the coaching disruption and the threat posed by the Black Ferns, Johannes-Haupt says South Africa will not abandon the style that has defined the team.
She believes the squad has developed greater depth through the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and recent series against the USA Eagles Women and Fijiana.
The coaching team intends to maintain a physical approach rather than selecting a side purely to counter New Zealand.
Johannes-Haupt also acknowledged the significance of playing the Black Ferns in South Africa, describing the occasion as a major moment for the team and the wider women’s game.
Historic Test awaits at FNB Stadium
The fixture represents an important occasion for women’s rugby in South Africa, with the Springbok Women preparing to face one of the game’s most formidable opponents on home soil.
New Zealand’s team had yet to be confirmed at the time of South Africa’s announcement.
With a new coaching setup, an experienced captain and several players facing the Black Ferns for the first time, the Springbok Women will be hoping to produce a much-improved performance from their previous encounter.
Springbok Women XV
15 Byrhandré Dolf
14 Alichia Arries
13 Zintle Mpupha
12 Aphiwe Ngwevu
11 Ayanda Malinga
10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg
9 Unam Tose
8 Aseza Hele
7 Catha Jacobs
6 Sizophila Solontsi
5 Danelle Locher
4 Vainah Ubisi
3 Babalwa Latsha (captain)
2 Lindelwa Gwala
1 Sanelisiwe Charlie
Replacements: Anuschka Groenewald, Yonela Ngxingolo, Nombuyekezo Mdliki, Nomsa Mokwai, Shiniqwa Lamprecht, Logan Welman, Anacadia Minnaar, Maceala Samboya
Referee: Zoe Naude
Assistant referees: Giana Viljoen, Angie Bezuidenhout
TMO: Quinton Immelman
Can the Springbok Women shock the Black Ferns?
South Africa will be looking to turn the page after their heavy World Cup defeat and make the most of home advantage at FNB Stadium.
Can the Springbok Women challenge the Black Ferns on Saturday?
