Spain v South Africa - teams and prediction

PREVIEW: The Springbok Women will bring their WXV Global Series European tour to a close when they face Spain at the Estadio Olímpico de la Cartuja in Seville on Sunday.

The clash will be the 10th meeting between the two sides, with South Africa holding the historical advantage after winning six of their previous nine encounters.

The Springbok Women also have recent history on their side, having beaten Spain 48-26 in their last meeting in 2025 – a clear indication that the visitors are favourites.

South Africa also arrive in Seville with confidence after bouncing back from their heavy defeat to Wales with an impressive 41-29 victory over Italy.

Boks wary of Spanish threat

Despite being ranked four places above Spain, Springbok Women co-head coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt is expecting a serious challenge from the hosts.

“We have reviewed and previewed Spain, and what Spain brings is they actually have a set-piece that could actually compete, which is nice to see so that we can really see how dominant our set-piece really is,” Johannes-Haupt told Rugby365.

“They’ve got younger backs, so we are expecting them to let the ball fly a bit more.

“They are going to come with an attacking game as well as a good set-piece team.”

Forward power v backline pace

South Africa’s biggest weapon remains their powerful forward pack, which produced three of their five tries in last Saturday’s victory over Italy.

However, with only Anushka Groenewald and Logan Welman retaining their places among the forwards, Spain will provide a different challenge.

The hosts will look to test the Springbok Women out wide, with South Africa’s backline featuring Blitzboks Women talent Shiniqwa Lamprecht and Patience Mokone.

Mokone comes into the starting XV on the left wing in place of Maria Tshiremba.

“We are becoming a team that can actually not just do forward play, but we can actually involve our backs,” Johannes-Haupt said.

“I’ve seen there’s quite a few of the sevens girls in the backline. So that speed and pace is definitely there.”

Latsha returns to captain Boks

South Africa have made a few tweaks to the side that defeated Italy.

Babalwa Latsha returns as captain, swapping places with Nombuyekezo Mdliki, who drops to the bench.

Lindelwa Gwala and Danelle Lochner also return to bolster the replacements after missing out against Italy.

Gwala takes over from Micke Gunter at hooker, while Lochner replaces Nomsa Mokwai among the replacements.

Mary Zulu, who joined the squad on Monday as a replacement for the injured Libbie Janse van Rensburg, provides cover at flyhalf and fullback from the bench.

Spain will welcome back Ana Peralta, who missed the WXV Global Series Challenger in Hong Kong.

Peralta starts in the back row alongside Nerea García and Valentina Pérez.

Stade Toulousain’s Amalia Argudo and Harlequins’ Claudia Peña Hidalgo will spearhead the Spanish attack from the backline.

Argudo was Las Leonas’ leading scorer at the WXV Global Series Challenger, finishing with 26 points from two tries, five conversions and two penalty goals.

Spain will also have plenty of firepower available from the bench, with Alba Capell, Anne de Corres Fernández, Bingbing Vergara and Lea Ducher expected to provide impact in the second half.

Tighthead prop Maëlia Lapujada will make her Test debut after earning her place in Régis Sonnes’ matchday 23.

Prediction:

Rugby365: South Africa by 15+ points.

Spain: 15 Amalia Argudo; 14 Tecla Masoko, 13 Claudia Peña, 12 Amaia Erbina, 11 Claudia Cano; 10 Naroa Azpitarte, 9 Matilda Toca; 8 Valentina Pérez, 7 Nerea García, 6 Ana Peralta, 5 Lourdes Alameda (captain), 4 Carmen Castellucci, 3 Eider García; 2 Marieta Román, 1 Inés Antolínez.
Replacements: 16 Nuria Jou, 17 África Vílchez, 18 Maëlia Lapoujada, 19 Beatriz Rivera, 20 Alba Capell, 21 Anne Fernández De Corres, 22 Bingbing Vergara, 23 Lea Ducher.

South Africa: 15 Jakkie Cilliers, 14 Alichia Arries, 13 Maceala Samboya, 12 Shiniqwa Lamprecht, 11 Patience Mokone, 10 Byrhandré Dolf, 9 Unam Tose, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Lerato Makua, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Catha Jacobs, 4 Vainah Ubisi, 3 Babalwa Latsha (captain) 2 Anushka Groenewald, 1 Xoliswa Khuzwayo
Replacements: 16 Lindelwa Gwala, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19 Danelle Lochner, 20 Logan Welman, 21 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 22 Felicia Jacobs, 23 Mary Zulu

Date: Sunday, October 4
Venue: Estadio Olimpico de la Cartuja, Seville
Kick-off: 12.00 CEST (12.00 SAST; 10.00 GMT)
Referee: Bérénice Loubet (France)
Assistant referees: Alexandra Ferré (France), Maria Latos (Germany)
TMO: Finlay Brown (Scotland)