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The South African
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The South African
Springbok Women gear up for one last rodeo before World Cup
The Springbok Women have made several changes for their last game before the Rugby World Cup, with key players returning from injury and rotation in Saturday's clash against the Black Ferns XV in Athlone. Experienced campaigners Ayanda Malinga, Danelle Lochner and Lindelwa Gwala will return to the Springbok Women match-23 for Saturday's second international friendly against the Black Ferns XV as Swys de Bruin again tweaked combinations for their final match before the Rugby World Cup in England next month. Malinga, a try-scorer against Canada in Gqeberha three weeks ago, returns to the left wing after being declared fit following a shoulder strain, while Lochner, who also played in that match, recovered from a facial fracture to run out at Athlone Stadium this weekend. Lindelwa Gwala, the Springbok Women's most experienced hooker with 35 Test caps, returns after she missed both Tests against Canada. Byrhandré Dolf is another to return to the starting team after sitting out the first match against the New Zealand side due to a niggle, while De Bruin again opted for new combinations in several other positions. 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 came 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.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Springbok Women welcome back experienced trio for crucial clash against Black Ferns XV
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.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Libbie Janse van Rensburg happy to play musical chairs in Springbok Women backline
Springbok Women's flyhalf Libbie Janse van Rensburg tries to hand off Black Ferns XV centre Kelsey Teneti at Athlone Stadium. Picture: Henk Kruger Independent Media Image: Henk Kruger Independent Media TALL, athletic, with her blonde pigtails hidden under a bucket hat, Libbie Janse van Rensburg is instantly recognisable at every Springbok Women's training. She's also usually the player calling the shots in every offensive move. But of late, the Springbok flyhalf has been moved around the backline with coach Swys de Bruin still testing out combinations less than a month away from the Boks' Rugby World Cup opener against Brazil in Northampton. Janse van Rensburg started at No 10 with Tayla Kinsey as her halfback partner against the Black Ferns XI last Saturday at the Athlone Stadium before De Bruin made a complete switch with Zintle Mpupha slotting into the flyhalf position along with Nadine Roos shifting from fullback to No 9 in the second half. 'I think it's exciting, especially for me. I've been playing at 10 for a very long time,' Janse van Rensburg told the media at UCT on Monday. 'I like the challenge of having to play at different positions as well. Although I find comfort in playing at 10, I know what's expected of me. It's also good to test yourself as a player so you don't become too complacent. 'As we saw in the second half of the last game, the coaches will make positions and sometimes put you in a position that maybe you haven't trained at or maybe you haven't had a run there. I's good for us all to be able to slot into any position. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'Like I say, anything happens at a World Cup. Anyone can pick up an injury and then you're going to have to adapt to it. I think it's good for our girls to play in those different positions. 'For me, I'm just doing whatever the coach wants me to do. Whatever he thinks is best for the team is where I'm at. I'm comfortable at 10, I'm comfortable at 12, comfortable at 15. So, like I say, whatever he makes the call. 'I think the team is very comfortable with me at 10. I think they find good cohesion around me at 10. So yeah, wherever the coach puts me at the end of the day, I'm happy to serve the team.' While De Bruin has stressed throughout the team's build-up to next month's Rugby World Cup that he is comfortable switching the players around in the backline as he believes they all have the similar attacking skill-sets, the constant rotation of roles can disrupt the defensive alignment, which the Black Ferns XV capitalised on by exploiting the spaces out wide when the Boks rushed up in defence last Saturday. Van Rensburg feels that this is not entirely due to the halfback pairing being chopped and changed as the responsibility lies with the centres to organise the players on defence. 'So, the rush defence comes more from our 12-13 channels,' she said. 'But in the end, it's the whole connection of the backline that has to call that rush.' The Black Ferns XV may have been a hastily assembled unit, but they certainly have a genuine playmaker in young Hannah King, who was desperately unlucky not to make the Black Ferns 32-player Rugby World Cup squad announced last Friday. The young pivot certainly showed the Black Ferns selectors that she would be ready for a call-up should there be an injury in England with an assured performance at first five-eight as she set up her centre-pairing of Hollyrae Mete-Renata and Kelsey Teneti alongside for four tries on the night. King's little pop passes to Mete-Renata were particularly telling with the hard-running No 12 directly attacking Janse van Rensburg defensive channel. 'That's why we're playing against opposition like that, because they put so much pressure on us. We're playing against the best that we can strive to become. I think it's been working for us,' she said. 'I had a bit of a chat with her (King) afterwards and she said, well done to our team and what we brought to them. We also tested them. 'I think it's so good for us to be playing against girls like that. They constantly trained at such a high level. It's a great opportunity for us. 'I think the preparations are going really well. We've been building such solid foundations throughout the last three games and I think it's absolutely great for us to have this kind of preparation leading into a World Cup.'
IOL News
5 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Physicality pays off: Springbok Women's shift in tactics delivers
Springbok Women flyhalf Libbie Janse van Rensburg takes on the Black Ferns defence. Photo: Henk Kruger Independent Media Image: Henk Kruger Independent Media Performance coach Swys de Bruin admitted that a shift in the Springbok Women's approach after half-time bore fruit as they came close to a come-from-behind win against the Black Ferns XV at Athlone Stadium on Saturday. South Africa were more direct and physical in the second half, keeping the ball tight and employing crash-ball tactics after being outplayed in the opening 40 minutes. 'We simply did not get going in the first half, but I have to give credit to the team for the way they adapted in the second half, where we created numerous chances,' De Bruin said after the 34–26 defeat to the New Zealanders, who led 20–12 at the break. 'If we did not have one of our tries disallowed at a crucial stage in the second half, who knows what could have happened at the end.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Powering up The Bok defence conceded four tries in the first half and only two in the second, with the South Africans gaining momentum through a more confrontational approach and the impact of a strong bench. 'We made a call at half-time to change our approach and play more direct, and that worked for us tonight,' said De Bruin. 'It was a night where we needed physicality and the shortest route forward, and we almost managed to turn the result around, something that I am very pleased about. It is all part of the learning curve as we head to the Rugby World Cup next month. 'We had some combinations that worked earlier in the season, like in the match against Spain where we scored several backline tries. But tonight we needed physical ball-carriers, and those combinations were better suited against a very skilful Black Ferns XV.' Swys de Bruin: 'We made a call at half-time to change our approach and play more direct, and that worked for us' - more here: 🗣#BokWomen #MakeItCount — SA Women's Rugby (@WomenBoks) July 26, 2025 Leading from the front One of those who embraced the change in tactics was captain and No 8 Babalwa Latsha, who scored one of the Bok Women's four tries. She said the players were comfortable with a more forward-driven strategy. 'We don't mind that at all – we are good in close-range rugby where we can use our physicality,' said Latsha. 'But the Black Ferns deserve credit as they showed good skills on a windy afternoon, and they really used their scoring opportunities well. Not so much for us – we created a lot of chances but didn't take them all, and that will again be a work-on for us this week.' It remains to be seen whether the Springboks will stick with the direct strategy when the sides meet again at the same venue next weekend – their final official outing before the World Cup. 'We wanted these games to see what we need to do better or where we are doing well, so next weekend will be that final test for the team and the combinations,' said De Bruin. 'I am very proud of our effort in that second half and the clarity that gave the coaching staff.'
The South African
5 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Spirited Springbok Women show promise in agonising defeat to Black Ferns
The Springbok Women impressed with heart and power but suffered a narrow 34–26 defeat to the Black Ferns XV in Cape Town. The Black Ferns XV struck early when Mererangi Paul broke through to score in the second minute at Athlone Stadium on Saturday. South Africa responded with fire, and Anathi Qolo nearly scored before a turnover handed momentum back to the dangerous visitors. Moments later, Babalwa Latsha and Aseza Hele powered forward, gaining metres and setting up strong attacking platforms in the opposition's 22. South Africa's scrum dominance showed as they won a heel against the head and mauled brilliantly to set up Hele's opening try. Jakkie Cilliers converted cleanly, and the Springbok Women took a confident 7–5 lead after ten physical, back-and-forth opening minutes. The Black Ferns XV hit back, capitalising on South African ill-discipline as Vainah Ubisi received a yellow for repeated infringements. Kelsey Teneti finished a slick backline move and moments later intercepted a pass to race in for another unconverted try. Hele once again used the maul to her advantage, dotting down to reduce the deficit to 15–12 in an intense half. Teneti completed her brace before halftime as Eloise Webb's yellow card left South Africa with only 13 defenders on the field. A try-saving obstruction call denied the visitors before halftime, but they still entered the break leading 20–12 after missed conversions. In the second half, Hollyrae Mete-Renata extended the lead following relentless pressure close to the Springbok Women's tryline. Teneti punished a midfield blunder to grab her hat-trick, stretching the margin to 34–12 with twenty minutes remaining. Captain Latsha powered over next, Cilliers added the extras, and South Africa surged back into the game with renewed confidence. After sustained dominance, Catha Jacobs was held up before Nombuyekezo Mdliki finally scored, closing the gap to eight with minutes left. Despite relentless late attacks from stars like Nadine Roos and Hele, South Africa ran out of time to complete the comeback. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
