The Springbok Women will be without Sanelisiwe Charlie for their final Test of the year, while the team’s co-coaches, Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September, decided to make a number of tweaks to the starting team to face Ireland at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.
The Test is the second against Ireland in the WXV Global Series, with several changes to the side that came up short 40-27 last weekend.
Charlie sustained a serious knee injury at training in the week, which has ruled the experienced prop out of the match, while the coaches freshened up the pack and make some positional changes as well.
Yonela Ngxingolo, who came off the bench last week to earn her 50th cap, will take over from Charlie in the starting front row, with Anuschka Ekron coming into the squad as replacement loosehead prop.
There is also a swap at hooker, with Lindelwa Gwala starting and Anushka Groenewald playing off the bench, while Danelle Lochner will start at lock next to Vainah Ubisi.
Catha Jacobs moves from lock to flanker, with Lerato Makua playing off the bench this week. In a final tweak to the pack, Nomsa Mokwai, comes onto the bench in place of Logan Welman.
Amongst the backs, Byrhandré Dolf will move from flyhalf to fullback, with Mary Zulu being promoted off the bench to start in the No 10 jersey.
Jakkie Cilliers moves from fullback to right wing, resulting in Alichia Arries moving to the left. Maria Tshiremba will add pace and impact off the bench this time around.
In a final change on the bench, Insaaf Levy was named at back-up scrumhalf to Unam Tose, with Anacadia Minnaar not involved in the match-23 this time around.
Johannes-Haupt said the tweaks to the team do not mean a change in their style of play, but rather to give different players the opportunities to execute those objectives, while they also responded to some of the lessons from last week’s Test.
“Apart from Sanelisiwe, who unfortunately injured her knee this week, no other changes were forced on us, and we could continue with our planned rotation for our final test of the year,” she said. “We believe the changes will provide a better outcome against Ireland.”
Johannes-Haupt said the inclusion of Ekron and Levy was just reward for the duo, who started their international season at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Kenya earlier this year.
“I am happy that they finally get a chance to play and the fact that both are local players is an added bonus,” said Johannes-Haupt.
“They have been training with our academy players in recent weeks before they joined us, so are in good nick and ready to go.”
Johannes-Haupt said they are determined to finish strong: “We are not going to Athlone to lose on Saturday. This is the perfect venue and occasion to finish off a good season for our squad. What better way to front a challenge from one of the top five ranked teams in the world with a performance that will do justice to our year and reward one of the most passionate crowds in the women’s game.”
Kick-off is at 15h00 on Saturday, with tickets available at Ticketmaster.
The Springbok Women team to play Ireland in Cape Town:
15 Byrhandré Dolf (SA Rugby contracted) – 34 caps, 90 points (9 tries, 21 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
14 Jakkie Cilliers (RC Toulon Provence Méditerranée) – 30 caps, 170 points (12 tries, 49 conversions, 8 penalty goals)
13 Maceala Samboya (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 15 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
12 Shiniqwa Lamprecht (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 6 caps, 0 points
11 Alichia Arries (DHL Western Province) – 13 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
10 Mary Zulu (Sharks Women) – 20 caps, 45 points (1 try, 20 conversions)
9 Unam Tose (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 35 caps, 17 points (3 tries, 1 conversion)
8 Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 39 caps, 95 points (19 tries)
7 Catha Jacobs (Golden Lions Women) – 35 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
6 Sizophila Solontsi (captain; SA Rugby contracted) – 40 caps, 50 points (10 tries)
5 Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) – 28 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
4 Vainah Ubisi (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 31 caps, 50 points (10 tries)
3 Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 17 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
2 Lindelwa Gwala (Sharks Women) – 44 caps, 90 points (18 tries)
1 Yonela Ngxingolo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 50 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Replacements:
16 Anushka Groenewald (DHL Western Province) – 14 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
17 Anuschka Ekron (DHL Western Province) – 3 caps, 0 points
18 Thandile Mazwi (DHL Western Province) – 6 caps, 0 points
19 Nomsa Mokwai (DHL Western Province) – 23 caps, 0 points
20 Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 40 caps, 85 points (17 tries)
21 Lerato Makua (SA Rugby contracted) – 23 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
22 Insaaf Levy (DHL Western Province) – 2 caps, 0 points
23 Maria Tshiremba (SA Rugby contracted) – 4 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
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