WXV 2, Round One - teams and predictions

PREVIEW: The WXV 2 kicks off this Friday when South Africa Women take on Japan Women at Cape Town Stadium.

The fixture will set the tone for an enthralling tournament which continues on Saturday with Australia facing Wales before Italy battle defending champions Scotland.

South Africa head into the fixture on the back of incredible results.

The side bagged their first-ever win over Barbarians (59-17) and followed that up with a convincing 36-19 victory over Spain at the iconic Cape Town Stadium.

The Springbok W have undergone an evolution under Performance coach Swys De Bruin, who joined the Springbok coaching set-up earlier this year.

And while good results build confidence, it also comes with heaps of pressure and this Friday it will be amplified when they take on Japan.

The two teams are very evenly poised. In their two previous meetings, each claimed a win in 2022, while in terms of World Rugby Rankings, the Sakura Fifteens are 11th and Bok Women are 12.

“The Barbarians and Spain are in the past, now it’s time to focus on the real job which is WXV,” said Springbok lock Vainah Ubisi said at the team’s Blazer Ceremony.

“The match against Japan is on Friday, so we should be ready and give everything we have.

“I know it’s going to be a long day, the Japanese players are small but lethal and can cause a lot of chaos.

“But I am looking forward to it.”

📸 Say WXV😁

Captains chat🎤 https://t.co/Favu9mTQ69#Rugby365 #WXV pic.twitter.com/Ow47dfOHjd

ADVERTISEMENT

— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) September 25, 2024

The Springbok Women have undergone a couple of injury-enforced changes.

The in-form hooker Lindelwa Gwala picked up a calf strain that ruled her out of contention. Roseline Botes will replace her in the starting team.

SVNS star Ayanda Malinga, who makes a return to the Test arena for the first time since 2022, comes in for the injured Shaunique Hess, and experienced prop Babalwa Latsha swapped jerseys with Azisa Mkiva, who will start on the bench this time around.

Japan head coach Lesley McKenzie has made wholesale changes to her matchday 23 after the 8-24 defeat to Italy two weeks ago.

Eight players come into the side, including Seina Saito, Japan’s most capped player, who slots in at No.8, with Jennifer Nduka moving to the reserves bench.

The other big change is the return of Ayasa Otsuka into the playmaker role as the starting No.10.

“We’ve acclimatised well to South Africa and are looking forward to playing the home nation in the opening game of WXV,” said McKenzie.

“We’re the first game of all three tiers so we’re excited to hopefully set the standard.

“It’s not too big a secret how South Africa is going to approach the game. They’ve got very direct carriers and a very direct style of play. Half the game is going to be about negating that as best we can, while the other half, and slightly more we hope, is going to be our approach, in how we want to play the game according to our style and abilities.”

#WATCH! Why @WomenBoks go with a 6/2 split for the @WXVRugby opener against @JRFURugby W! #rugby #news #sports #SAvJAP #WomenInSport #WomenInRugby https://t.co/iEt62EhoBL

— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) September 24, 2024

*On Saturday, Australia and Wales, who both competed in WXV 1 in 2023, will put in a fierce battle and Scotland take on Italy.

Wallaroos and Wales met last week, with the latter recording a historic win.

“We’re expecting another close match with Wales on Saturday to start our campaign and are confident if we can tidy up our discipline the results will follow,” said Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp.

“It’s a similar team to last week with Arabella coming into the starting side and Cecilia Smith back in the 23. They both bring key experience for the tournament.”

Scrumhalf Keira Bevan captains Wales for the third time and leads a side made up of the bulk of the squad that recorded a historic first win over the Wallaroos at Rodney Parade last weekend.

“This selection shows we are starting to build the competition for places and the strength in depth that we need as a squad,” Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham said.

“Australia will be hurting after our first historic win at Rodney Parade, and we expect them to come out firing and with a point to prove in Cape Town.

“We can take confidence from the performance last time out and we will need to show the same calmness and composure against one of the top six teams in the world.”

* All the Round One teams and predictions are below …

Friday, September 27

South Africa W v Japan W
(Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town – Kick-off: 16.00; 23.00 Japan time; 14.00 GMT)

Prediction
@rugby365com: South Africa W by 10 points

Teams:

South Africa Women: 15 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 14 Jakkie Cilliers, 13 Eloise Webb, 12 Chumisa Qawe, 11 Ayanda Malinga, 10 Nadine Roos, 9 Tayla Kinsey, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Sinazo Mcatshulwa, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Vainah Ubisi, 4 Nolusindiso Booi (captain), 3 Babalwa Latsha, 2 Roseline Botes, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie.
Replacements: 16 Micke Gunter, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Azisa Mkiva, 19 Danelle Lochner, 20 Catha Jacobs, 21 Anathi Qolo, 22 Unam Tose, 23 Zintle Mpupha.

Japan Women: 15 Sora Nishimura, 14 Misaki Matsumura, 13 Mana Furuta, 12 Haruka Hirotsu, 11 Komachi Imakugi, 10 Ayasa Otsuka, 9 Moe Tsukui, 8 Seina Saitio, 7 Iroha Nagata (captain), 6 Masami Kawamura, 5 Otoka Yoshimura, 4 Yuna Sato, 3 Wako Kitano, 2 Kotomi Taniguchi, 1 Sachiko Kato.
Replacements: 16 Asuka Kuge, 17 Manami Mine, 18 Nijiho Nagata, 19 Kyoko Hosokawa, 20 Jennifer Nduka, 21 Megumi Abe, 22 Rinka Matsuda, 23 Kanako Kobayashi.

Referee: Maria Latos (Germany)
Assistant referees: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe), Ella Goldsmith (Australia)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)

Saturday, September 28

Australia Women v Wales Women
(Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town – Kick-off: 12.30; 20.30 Australia time; 11.30 UK time; 10.30 GMT)

Prediction
@rugby365com: Wales by five points.

Teams:

Australia Women: 15 Caitlyn Halse, 14 Maya Stewart, 13 Georgina Friedrichs, 12 Trilleen Pomare, 11 Desiree Miller, 10 Faitala Moleka, 9 Layne Morgan, 8 Tabua Tunakauvadra, 7 Ashley Marsters, 6 Siokapesi Palu, 5 Michaela Leonard, 4 Kaitlan Leaney, 3 Eva Karpani, 2 Tania Naden, 1 Bridie O’Gorman.
Replacements: 16 Tiarna Molloy, 17 Alapeta Ngauamo, 18 Lydia Kavoa, 19 Atasi Lafai, 20 Lucy Dinnen, 21 Natalie Wright, 22 Arabella McKenzie, 23 Lori Cramer.

Wales Women: 15 Jenny Hesketh, 14 Jasmine Joyce, 13 Carys Cox, 12 Kerin Lake, 11 Nel Metcalfe, 10 Lleucu George, 9 Keira Bevan (captain); 8 Bethan Lewis, 7 Kate Williams, 6 Alisha Butchers, 5 Georgia Evans, 4 Natalia John, 3 Donna Rose, 2 Carys Phillips, 1 Gwenllian Pyrs.
Replacements: 16 Molly Reardon, 17 Abbey Constable, 18 Jennie Scoble, 19 Abbie Fleming, 20 Alex Callender, 21 Sian Jones, 22 Kayleigh Powell, 23 Hannah Jones

Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Zoe Naude (South Africa) & Local
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)

Scotland Women v Italy Women
(Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town – Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 Scotland time, 15.00 Italy time; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction
@rugby365com: Scotland by 15 points

Scotland Women: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Coreen Grant, 13 Emma Orr, 12 Meryl Smith, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Caity Mattinson, 8 Evie Gallagher, 7 Rachel McLachlan, 6 Rachel Malcolm (captain), 5 Sarah Bonar, 4 Fi McIntosh, 3 Christine Belisle, 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Anne Young.
Replacements: 16 Elis Martin, 17 Lisa Cockburn, 18 Elliann Clarke, 19 Louise McMillan, 20 Alex Stewart, 21 Leia Brebner-Holden, 22 Lisa Thomson, 23 Lucia Scott.
Saturday, September 28

Italy Women:  15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14 Aura Muzzo, 13 Sara Mannini, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Francesca Granzsotto, 10 Emma Stevanin, 9 Sofia Stefan, 8 Elisa Giordano (captain), 7 Beatrice Veronese, 6 Ilaria Arrighetti, 5 Giordana Duca, 4 Sara Tounesi, 3 Laura Gurioli, 1 Emmaula Stecca.
Replacements: 16 Vittori Vecchinni, 17 Gaia Maris, 18 Vittoria Zanette, 19 Alessandra Frangipani. 20 Francesca Sgorbini, 21 Sofia Catelani, 22 Michela Sillari, 23 Beatrice Capomaggi

Referee: Amelia Luciano (USA)
Assistant Referees: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe) & Local
TMO: Chris Assmus (Canada)