Nomawethu Mabenge (wing) and the uncapped Nombuyekezo Mdliki (prop) have been drafted into the Springbok Women squad as injury replacements and have been announced in the match 23 for South Africa’s final WXV 2 match, against Italy at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, on Saturday, 12 October 2024.
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 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 flanker in a new loose forward combination with Catha Jacobs (flanker) and Sizophila Solontsi (No 8), with the duo swopping 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 swops roles with Sanelisiwe Charlie, 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.
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. 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 Performance Coach, Swys de Bruin
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.”
Springbok Women XV vs Italy in Cape Town on Saturday, 12 October, 2024
15. Eloise Webb (Border Ladies)
14. Nomawethu Mabenge (Boland Dames)
13. Zintle Mpupha (Bulls Daisies)
12. Chumisa Qawe (Bulls Daisies)
11. Ayanda Malinga (Bulls Daisies)
10. Nadine Roos (unattached)
9. Tayla Kinsey (Vice-captain; Sharks Women)
8. Sizophila Solontsi (Bulls Daisies)
7. Catha Jacobs (Leicester Tigers Women)
6. Lusanda Dumke (Captain, Bulls Daisies)
5. Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daisies)
4. Nolusindiso Booi (Captain, DHL Western Province)
3. Babalwa Latsha (Harlequins Women)
2. Lindelwa Gwala (Ealing Trailfinders)
1. Yonela Ngxingolo (Bulls Daisies)
Replacements
16. Micke Gunter (Bulls Daisies)
17. Sanelisiwe Charlie (Bulls Daisies)
18. Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies)
19. Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women)
20. Sinazo Mcatshulwa (DHL Western Province)
21. Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames)
22. Unam Tose (Bulls Daisies)
23. Byrhandre Dolf (Bulls Daisies)
Fixtures and Results of the 2024 World Rugby Women’s WXV 2 Tournament in Cape Town
Friday, 27 September: South Africa 31-24 Japan (DHL Stadium)
Saturday, 28 September: Australia 37-5 Wales (DHL Stadium)
Saturday, 28 September: Italy 0-19 Scotland (DHL Stadium)
Saturday, 5 October -12h30: Wales 5-8 Italy (Athlone Stadium)
Saturday, 5 October -14h00: Japan 13-19 Scotland (Athlone Stadium)
Saturday, 5 October -17h00: South Africa 26-33 Australia (Athlone Stadium)
Friday, 11 October – 16h00: Wales v Japan (Athlone Stadium)
Saturday, 12 October – 14h00: South Africa v Italy (Athlone Stadium)
Saturday, 12 October, 17:00: Australia v Scotland (Athlone Stadium)
Pre-WXV Match Schedule at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town
Saturday 7 September: Springbok Women 59 – 17 Barbarians
Thursday, 19 September: Springbok Women 36 – 19 Spain
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: A couple of changes to the Springbok Women with Nolusindiso Booi returning as captain, and the inclusion of Nomawethu Mabenge in the back line and the uncapped Nombuyekezo Mdliki starting on the bench, for the squad to take on Italy in Cape Town on Saturday, 12 October, 2024. Photo: SA Rugby / Gallo
(0 rating, 0 votes, rated)
Loading...
