Lerato Makua will make a welcome return as flanker for the Springbok Women’s team against the San Clemente Rhinos, in an international friendly at the False Bay Rugby Club, Cape Town, on Tuesday, 19 September 2023.
Makua last played for South Africa at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Madagascar in May, but sustained an injury during the Women’s Premier Division final for the Bulls Daisies.
Although the friendly against the Rhinos won’t add to Makua’s 10 Test caps, her performance is crucial as interim head coach Louis Koen finalises his WXV 2 squad this weekend. Koen has also called up Yolanda Ntibane for this match.
The EP Queens loose forward was part of two alignment camps in Stellenbosch recently and will get a run with all three options at No 8, Aseza Hele, Aliyah Tchogna Njamen, and Lusanda Dumke, not available for selection.
Opportunities for the Untested
Boland Dames outside back Machaela Samboya will get a first run in the green and gold jumper at wing, as will flyhalf Lara Schats, who represented Hong Kong in two tests in 2019, but wore the maroon jersey of Maties while awaiting her international clearance to play for South Africa.
New York Rugby Club’s Samantha Els (lock) will also get a first opportunity to show her worth, as will Mastercard Golden Lions Women prop Xoliswa Khuzwayo.
Els will partner with regular captain Nolusindiso Booi, who’s starting her first match for the Springbok Women since her injury on 1 April. On Saturday, against Kenya, Booi earned her 36th Test cap from the bench, equalling Zenay Jordaan’s Springbok Women record.
“I was mindful of the fact that we played in a test match only two days ago on Saturday, and we will be playing another match this coming Saturday against a high-ranked Barbarians team.”
Springbok Women Interim Head Coach, Louis Koen
“We needed to rotate players for this match, while also giving some of those who had been working hard at camp an opportunity to put that practice into match action. The Rhinos are a well-balanced side with numerous international players in their team, so this will be a very competitive match and exactly what we need in our final stretch towards WXV 2 in October.
“This team will have to protect the badge as much as the group did that played against Kenya on the weekend,” said Koen.
Springbok Women’s Team to Face Rhinos in Cape Town:
15. Mary Zulu
14. Machaela Samboya
13. Veroeshka Grain
12. Chuma Qawe
11. Unathi Mali
10. Lara Schats
9. Unam Tose
8. Yolanda Ntibane
7. Sinelitha Noxeke
6. Lerato Makua
5. Samantha Els
4. Nolusindiso Booi (Captain)
3. Amber Schooner
2. Luchell Hanekom
1. Xoliswa Khuzwayo
Replacements:
16. Micke Gunter
17. Asithandile Ntoyanto
18. Yonela Ngxingolo
19. Vainah Ubisi
20. Nompumelelo Mathe
21. Rumandi Potgieter
22. Libbie Janse van Rensburg
23. Byrhandrè Dolf
Match details: Springbok Women v San Clemente Rhinos
Venue: False Bay Rugby Club, Cape Town
Date: Tuesday, 19 September 2023Kick-off: 16h00
Referee: Bulela Qwane
Livestream: Official Springbok YouTube channel
Photo 1 Caption: Lerato Makua will make a welcome return to the Springbok Women team at flanker when they take on the San Clemente Rhinos at False Bay Rugby Club in Cape Town on Tuesday, 19 September 2023. Photo: Women Boks (Twitter/X)
With editing by gsport
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