WXV Global Series: Italy v South Africa
PREVIEW: The Springbok Women will be eager to bounce back when they take on Italy in the WXV Global Series on Saturday.
The encounter at the Stadio Omero Tognon is set to be intriguing given that the last time these two teams went head to head was at the 2025 World Cup pool stage in York, where the Boks recorded a 29-24 victory.
In the other fixtures of the weekend, World Champs England host the number two-ranked side in the world, New Zealand, at Allianz Stadium.
Wales take on USA – two sides who kicked off their campaigns with impressive results. Scotland and Australia, who are both still looking for their first September wins, then meet in Edinburgh.
France will host a Canadian side brimming with confidence after last week’s result against England. Discipline will be Les Bleues’ watchword after their performance against Australia in Aix-en-Provence.
Coach Plinio Sciamanna has made several changes to the Italy squad from the one that beat Japan last weekend. Alessia Pilani replaces Vittoria Zanette in the front row, Elisa Giordano returns to the middle of the back row, with Francesca Sgorbini moving to flanker.
Michela Sillari returns to the back row, with Alyssa D’Incà moving to the wing and Francesca Granzotto joining the bench.
Meanwhile, on the bench second-row/back-row hybrid Mascia Jelic – sister of former Italy men’s sevens star Ratko – could make her debut.
Italy coach Sciamanna explained his decision to change a winning formula: “The match against South Africa will be different from the one against Japan, which is why we’ve made some changes to the line-up. The return of Elisa and Michela allows us to vary our decisions and brings experience.”
South Africa, too, have reshuffled their starting line-up, making several changes to their squad for their second WXV Global Series outing.
Unam Tose returns at scrumhalf and will share the captaincy with Sizo Solontsi at the Stadio Omero Tognon in Pordenone, where Lerato Makua and Alichia Arries, who missed the Wales test due to injury, are back in the squad.
Only three of the seven backs retain their places in the run-on side. Maceala Samboya remains at outside centre, Maria Tshiremba switches wings, and Byrhandré Dolf moves from full-back to fly-half.
Nombuyekezo Mdliki starts at tighthead, with hooker Anushka Groenewald coming into the middle of the front row for Lindelwa Gwala, while Yonela Ngxingolo – the second most capped player ever for the Springbok Women – will wear the green and gold for the 48th time.
Catha Jacobs moves from flanker to join Vainah Ubisi in the second row, replacing Danelle Lochner, who drops out of the 23 despite having her red card against Wales rescinded. Lerato Makua comes in at blindside flanker, and Aseza Hele is back at number eight.
Prediction:
Rugby365: Springboks by five points
Teams:
Italy: 15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (captain); 14 Aura Muzzo, 13 Michela Sillari, 12 Sara Mannini, 11 Alyssa D’Incá; 10 Emma Stevanin, 9 Sofia Stefan, 8 Elisa Giordano, 7 Alissa Ranuccini, 6 Francesca Sgorbini, 5 Giordana Duca, 4 Alessandra Frangipani, 3 Alessia Pilani, 2 Vittoria Vecchini, 1 Silvia Turani.
Replacements: 16 Chiara Cheli, 17 Laura Foscato, 18 Gaia Dosi, 19 Giulia Cavina, 20 Mascia Jelic, 21 Alia Bitonci, 22 Beatrice Rigoni, 23 Francesca Granzotto.
South Africa: 15 Jakkie Cilliers, 14 Alichia Arries, 13 Maceala Samboya, 12 Shiniqwa Lamprecht, 11 Maria Tshiremba, 10 Byrhandré Dolf, 9 Unam Tose, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Lerato Makua, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Catha Jacobs, 4 Vainah Ubisi, 3 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 2 Anushka Groenewald, 1 Yonela Ngxingolo.
Replacements: 16 Micke Gunter, 17 Sanelisiwe Charlie, 18 Babalwa Latsha, 19 Nomsa Mokwai, 20 Logan Welman, 21 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 22 Felicia Jacobs, 23 Libbie Janse van Rensburg.
Referee: Holly Wood (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Maria Latos (DRV) and Emily Hope (RFU)
TMO: Dan Jones (RFU)
Here at the other teams and predictions:
England v New Zealand
Prediction:
Rugby365: England by 7 points
Teams
England: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Jess Breach, 13 Megan Jones (captain), 12 Helena Rowland, 11 Claudia Moloney-MacDonald; 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Lucy Packer; 8 Maddie Feaunati, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 6 Alex Matthews, 5 Lilli Ives Campion, 4 Morwenna Talling, 3 Sarah Bern; 2 Bryony Field, 1 Mackenzie Carson
Replacements: 16 May Campbell, 17 Hannah Botterman, 18 Maud Muir, 19 Abi Burton, 20 Marlie Packer, 21 Natasha Hunt, 22 Tatyana Heard, 23 Emma Sing.
New Zealand: 15 Braxton Sorensen-McGee; 14 Mererangi Paul, 13 Amy Du Plessis, 12 Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt, 11 Ayesha Leti-I’iga; 10 Hannah King, 9 Maia Joseph; 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 7 Elinor-Plum King, 6 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 5 Laura Bayfield, 4 Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 3 Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, 2 Georgia Ponsonby (captain), 1 Chryss Viliko
Replacements: 16 Atlanta Lolohea, 17 Maddison Robinson, 18 Santo Taumata, 19 Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, 20 Layla Sae, 21 Tara Turner, 22 Justine McGregor, 23 Alena Saili.
Referee: Clara Munarini (FIR)
Assistant Referees: Ben Connor (WRU) and Beatrice Smussi (FIR)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
Wales v USA
Prediction:
Rugby365: USA by 12 points
Wales: 15 Lisa Neumann; 14 Carys Cox, 13 Courtney Knight,12 Freya Bell, 11 Amy Williams; 10 Lleucu George, 9 Keira Bevan; 8 Bryonie King, 7 Alex Callender, 6 Kate Williams, 5 Georgia Evans, 4 Branwen Metcalfe, 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 2 Kelsey Jones, 1 Maisie Davies.
Replacements: 16 Molly Reardon, 17 Gwenllian Pyrs, 18 Elan Jones, 19 Gwen Crabb, 20 Jorja Aiono, 21 Sian Jones, 22 Jenna de Vera, 23 Nikita Prothero.
USA: 15 Kayla Canett, 14 Telesi Uhatafe, 13 Emily Henrich, 12 Bella Vogel, 11 Erica Coulibaly, 10 Nina Mason, 9 Abigail Paton, 8 Freda Tafuna, 7 Georgie Perris-Redding, 6 Hann Humphreys, 5 Rachel Ehrecke, 4 Hallie Taufoou, 3 Keia Mae Sagapolu-Senele, 2 Kathryn Treder, 1 Hope Rogers.
Replacements: 16 Chloe Hill-Huse, 17 Alivia Leatherman, 18 Reece Woods, 19 Erica Jarell-Searcy, 20 Kapoina Bailey, 21 Cassidy Bargell, 22 Katana Horward, 23 Tessa Hann.
Referee: Amber McLachlan (RA)
Assistant Referees: Jess Ling (RA) and Mariam Goguadze (GRU)
TMO: Finlay Brown (SRU)
Scotland v Australia
Prediction:
Rugby365: Australia by 5 points
Scotland: 15 Hannah Ramsay, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 13 Evie Willis, 12 Meryl Smith, 11 Shona Campbell; 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Ceitidh Ainsworth; 8 Evie Gallagher, 7 Rachel McLachlan, 6 Rachel Malcolm (captain), 5 Sarah Bonar, 4 Holland Bogan, 3 Elliann Clarke, 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Anne Young
Replacements: 16 Aicha Sutcliffe, 17 Leah Bartlett, 18 Molly Poolman, 19 Hollie Cunningham, 20 Eva Donaldson, 21 Leaia Brebner-Holden, 22 Katie Buchanan, 23 Chloe Rollie.
Australia: 15 Caitlyn Halse; 14 Amelia Whitaker, 13 Georgina Friedrichs, 12 Faitala Moleka, 11 Desiree Miller; 10 Waiaria Ellis, 9 Samantha Wood; 8 Siokapesi Palu Sekona (captain), 7 Piper Duck, 6 Pia Tapsell, 5 Michaela Leonard, 4 Kaitlan Leaney, 3 Faliki Pohiva; 2 Brittany Merlo, 1 Brianna Hoy
Replacements: 16 Tania Naden, 17 Martha Fua, 18 Bridie O’Gorman, 19 Jemma Bemrose, 20 Emily Chancellor, 21 Lily Bone, 22 Tia Hinds, 23 Ava Wereta.
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Bérénice Loubet (FFR) and Alexandra Ferré (FFR)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
France v Canada
Prediction:
Rugby365: Canada by 15 points or more
France: 15 Émilie Boulard; 14 Marie Ibañez, 13 Gabrielle Vernier, 12 Teani Feleu, 11 Léa Murie; 10 Carla Arbez, 9 Pauline Bourdon Sansus; 8 Léa Champon, 7 Mouna Toure, 6 Axelle Berthoumieu, 5 Charlotte Escudero; 4 Julia Grosz, 3 Assia Khalfaoui, 2 Élisa Riffonneau, 1 Yllana Brosseau
Replacements: 16 Mathilde Lazarko, 17 Amalia Bazola Allieres, 18 Annaëlle Deshaye, 19 Lou Roboam, 20 Elsa Peyras, 21 Alexandra Chambon, 22 Lina Queyroi, 23 Élodie Fernandez
Canada: 15 Savannah Bauder, 14 Asia Hogan-Rochester, 13 Florence Symonds, 12 Alexandra Tessier (captain), 11 Charity Williams; 10 Taylor Perry, 9 Olivia Apps, 8 Lizzie Gibson, 7 Julia Omokhuale, 6 Fabiola Forteza, 5 Laetitia Royer, 4 Rachel Smith, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 2 Kiki Idowu, 1 Mikiela Nelson.
Replacements: 16 Taylor McKnight, 17 Sophie McDonald, 18 Brooke Rempel, 19 Pamphinette Buisa, 20 Claire Gallagher, 21 Gabrielle Senft, 22 Justine Pelletier, 23 Aurora Bowie.
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Ruairidh Campbell (SRU) and Rebecca Piddlesden (RFU)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)
Ireland v Japan
Prediction:
Rugby365: Ireland by 20 points
Ireland: TBC
Japan: TBC
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (RA)
Assistant Referees: George Selwood (RFU) and Doriane Constanty (FFR)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
Source: WXV
