The Springbok Women will embark on their three-match European tour, to kick-start the new WXV Global Series, with a settled squad, with former Junior Springbok Women centre Naima Hlatshwayo included in the place of the injured Zintle Mpupha.
The experienced Mpupha picked up an ankle injury against the Black Ferns last Saturday, which has ruled her out of the tour, with Bok Women co-coaches Franzel September and Laurian Johannes-Haupt deciding on her Isuzu Bulls Daisies teammate as replacement.
Hlatshwayo is the only player in the tour squad that was not involved in preparations for the test against New Zealand, but the 20-year-old centre from the Nellmapius Rugby Club did make her test debut at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Nairobi earlier this year, scoring tries in two of her three tests. She missed out on an opportunity in the two-test series against USA in July due to injury.
The rest of the squad members are well experienced to the rigours of test rugby, with team captain, Babalwa Latsha (44), one of three players with more than 40 caps, while there are also a core group of eight players in the 30-40 caps bracket.
After their final training session in Stellenbosch on Friday, September expressed satisfaction on the durability and experience of the selected squad.
“We have been building towards this tour for a while now, first with the introduction of new players at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup, then the USA incoming tests, the tour to Fiji, and last weekend’s match against the Black Ferns,” said September.
“It was a pity to lose Zintle, but at the same time, this creates a great opportunity for Naima, who was part of our squad in Kenya and was in the USA squad, but unfortunately injured at the time.
“The core of our squad has more than 20 caps, which reflects on our wider plan to build experience towards the next World Cup in 2029, while those with 10 caps or fewer point to our plans to bring in players that have been knocking on the door.”
September believes the squad can continue the good form shown this year: “We have won six of our eight tests played this year, but we now step into the WXV Global Series, where you are playing the best of the best.
“We welcome that challenge too. Every fixture matters and will be delivering meaningful international rugby every year and that is what makes it so exciting to be part of this global spectacle.”
The squad will depart from Cape Town on Saturday afternoon. The tour kicks off with a test against Wales in Cardiff on 18 September, followed by tests against Italy in Pordenone (26 September) and Spain in Seville (4 October) before the South Africans return home for two matches against Ireland in Cape Town (24 and 31 October).
Springbok Women WXV Global Series squad:
Backs (13):
Byrhandré Dolf (SA Rugby contracted) – 30 caps, 81 points (8 tries, 19 conversions, 1 penalty goal),
Jakkie Cilliers (Rugby Club Toulon Provence Méditerranée) – 26 caps, 157 points (11 tries, 42 conversions, 6 penalty goals)