Injuries force Swys' hand

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: South Africa’s women national team coach Swys de Bruin has been forced into making changes for the side’s final outing in the WXV Two tournament.

Nomawethu Mabenge (wing) and the uncapped Nombuyekezo Mdliki (prop) have been drafted into the squad as injury replacements.

Both feature in the matchday 23 for South Africa’s final WXV 2 match, against Italy at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.

Mabenge will slot straight into the right wing berth held by Jakkie Cilliers against Japan and Australia. She will start in her 18th Test.

Mdliki, a former Junior Springbok women’s prop, will be in line to make her Test debut off the bench.

Cilliers, Libbie Janse van Rensburg and Maceala Samboya all picked up injuries in the last week and were ruled out of Saturday’s Test, with Mabenge and Mdliki joining the official squad.

Swys de Bruin and his coaching staff made a couple of changes to the starting side that just fell short against the Wallaroos last weekend, mostly in the pack.

Nolusindiso Booi returns as captain, resulting in a straight swap with Danelle Lochner, who reverts to being one of the impact players.

Last weekend’s captain, Lusanda Dumke, remains at flank in a new loose forward combination with Catha Jacobs (flank) and Sizophila Solontsi (No.8), with the duo swapping places with Sinazo Mcatshulwa and Aseze Hele, who will finish the game.

The experienced front row of Yonela Nxingolo, Lindelwa Gwala and Babalwa Latsha will be reunited for the first time since July 2022 when they fronted up against Japan in Kamaishi.

Gwala has recovered from the calf strain that kept her out of the first two WXV clashes, and replaces Roseline Botes at hooker, while Nxingolo swaps roles with Sanelisiwe Charie, who started the first two games of the tournament. Mdliki comes in for Azisa Mkiva on the bench.

Mabenge’s selection and the return of Tayla Kinsey at scrumhalf are the only changes in the backline.

Kinsey is the sole backline survivor who started against Italy in last year’s WXV 2 clash at the same venue, while Jacobs, Dumke, Booi and Latsha are the only starters in the pack who are back again.

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De Bruin said the team’s mission remains the same – adding building blocks to their ultimate destination, the Rugby World Cup in England next year.

“We tweaked around a bit in order to look at more combinations and sadly had to call for replacements as well due to the three injuries,” said De Bruin.

“That said, we still have good momentum going into this last game, an important one for us as it is another opportunity to beat a better-ranked team.”

Of the inclusion of Mdliki, the coach said it is exciting to see the pathway in the women’s game starting to deliver: “She was part of that junior squad who played against Zimbabwe in 2022 and trained with us for the last two months.

“That group already delivered Vainah Ubisi, Byrhandrè Dolf, Mary Zulu and Sinelitha Noxexe to the senior team. It bodes well for the future and I am sure Nombuyekezo will show why the coaches have so much faith in her.”

De Bruin was impressed by Italy’s abilities around the field.

“They certainly can mix it up, with good interplay by backs and forwards, and they have some really good decision makers, such a vital aspect in the women’s game,” he said.

“They will test us in different ways than Japan and Australia did and that is perfect for us, as we need different pictures all the time on our growth path. We want to finish this tournament strong, so hope to end off with a performance that not only ourselves, but the country can be proud of.”

South Africa women: 15 Eloise Webb, 14 Nomawethu Mabenge, 13 Zintle Mpupha, 12 Chumisa Qawe, 11 Ayanda Malinga, 10 Nadine Roos, 9 Tayla Kinsey, 8 Sizophila Solontsi, 7 Catha Jacobs, 6 Lusanda Dumke, 5 Vainah Ubisi, 4 Nolusindiso Booi (captain), 3 Babalwa Latsha, 2 Lindelwa Gwala, 1 Yonela Ngxingolo.
Replacements: 16 Micke Gunter, 17 Sanelisiwe Charlie, 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19 Danelle Lochner, 20 Sinazo Mcatshulwa, 21 Aseza Hele, 22 Unam Tose, 23 Byrhandrè Dolf.

Date: Saturday, October 12
Venue: Athlone Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 14.00 (14.00 Italian time; 12.00 GMT)
Referee: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)
Assistant referees: Amelia Luciano (United States), Maria Latos (Germany)
TMO: Estelle Whaiapu (New Zealand)