Springboks captain Siya Kolisi was on hand to help the Springboks Women’s team prepare for their final WXV 2 match against Italy at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.
Kolisi was pictured and filmed giving advice and putting the Women’s Boks through their paces, as they look to finish the competition on a high. After victory against Japan, they narrowly lost to Australia last Saturday at the same venue.
Kolisi, who is currently enjoying a break after a victorious Rugby Championship campaign with the Springboks, was also their main supporter in the match against the Wallaroos, as he sat in the stands among the fans with a jersey.
But on Thursday he was hands on at a training session, assisting team boss Swys de Bruin and his staff to prepare the team for the clash against the Italians.
De Bruin and the Women’s Boks are using the tier two tournament to put some building blocks in place ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup in England.
Final Session ✅ Ready to Execute! Italy here we come 😤#WXV#ETTIG#MakeItCount pic.twitter.com/KRQd6qpmzx
— SA Women's Rugby (@WomenBoks) October 10, 2024
Meranwhile, wing Nomawethu Mabenge and uncapped prop Nombuyekezo Mdliki have been drafted into the Springbok Women squad as injury replacements and were included in the matchday squad for the match against Italy.
Mabenge will slot straight into the right-wing berth held by Jakkie Cilliers against Japan and Australia and will start in her 18th Test, while 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, where Nolusindiso Booi returns as captain, resulting in a straight swop 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 swopping places with Sinazo Mcatshulwa and Aseze Hele, who will finish the game off the bench.
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 swops 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 that 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.
“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.”
Springbok Women’s team to face Italy in Cape Town:
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, 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.
@JohnGoliath82