Springbok Women welcome back experienced trio for crucial clash against Black Ferns XV

IOL News

3 days ago

Byrhandré Dolf also returns to the starting team after sitting out the first match against the New Zealand side due to a niggle, while De Bruin has opted for new combinations in several other positions.
Lindelwa Gwala, the Springbok Women's most experienced hooker with 35 Test caps, returns after she missed both Tests against Canada.
Malinga, who scored a try against Canada in Gqeberha three weeks ago, returns to the left wing after being declared fit following a shoulder strain. At the same time, Lochner, who also played in that match, has recovered from a facial fracture to run out at Athlone Stadium this weekend.
Coach Swys de Bruin has once more tweaked his combinations for the Bok Women's final match before the World Cup in England next month.
Experienced campaigners Ayanda Malinga, Danelle Lochner, and Lindelwa Gwala are back in the Springbok Women matchday squad for Saturday's second match against the Black Ferns XV.
Amongst those are Nadine Roos, who will return to scrumhalf where she will partner with flyhalf Libbie Janse van Rensburg, and in the midfield, where Aphiwe Ngwevu, who played off the bench last weekend, will combine with Zintle Mpupha for the first time this year.
Sinazo Mcatshulwa is also back at her preferred position of blindside flanker after coming off the bench last weekend, while loosehead prop Yonela Ngxingolo gets a rare start, having played off the bench 14 times in her last 16 appearances.
The 27-year-old started in 13 consecutive Tests earlier in her career, before being moved to the bench as a super sub who can pack down on both sides of the scrum.
Unam Tose and Xoliswa Khuzwayo are the only players on the bench who did not play in Athlone last weekend.
Tose did face Canada off the bench in Gqeberha, while Khuzwayo started all three matches in Madagascar during the Rugby Africa Women's Cup.
'These are the last tweaks — some were forced by niggles, as we could again not consider Nolusindiso Booi and Sizophila Solontsi, while Chumisa Qawe was also replaced due to medical advice,' said De Bruin.
'The other switches are to make sure we have a squad full of players with enough game time before we leave for England.'
With Booi on the sidelines, Babalwa Latsha will again lead the team on the field, with Janse van Rensburg as her deputy.
'We were boosted by the second half performance last weekend, but that is in the past, and we approach this one with a different team and some tweaks in the game plan,' said De Bruin.
'I would like to see the team play with more freedom on attack, but that focus area will only bring results if we finish our lead-up play. We are so close to combining all the good things we do, and this is the final opportunity to get it right before the trip to England.
'We must finish all the good things we start: that is a non-negotiable.'
Springbok Women's team for Athlone Stadium
15 Byrhandre Dolf, 14 Maceala Samboya, 13 Zintle Mpupha, 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 11 Ayanda Malinga, 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg (vice-captain), 9 Nadine Roos, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Sinazo Mcatshulwa, 6 Lerato Makua, 5 Danelle Lochner, 4 Vainah Ubisi, 3 Babalwa Latsha (captain), 2 Lindelwa Gwala, 1 Yonela Ngxingolo.
Replacements: 16 Luchell Hanekom, 17 Xoliswa Khuzwayo, 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19 Anathi Qolo, 20 Catha Jacobs, 21 Unam Tose, 22 Jakkie Cilliers, 23 Eloise Webb.