The WXV 2 competition kicks off in Cape Town this Friday evening, and the Springbok Women will be hoping to continue their current run of form and improve on last year’s third place finish.
In the build up to the competition, which was launched last year as part of World Rugby’s efforts to grow the women’s game, the Springbok Women have played two competitive matches at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town. The first of these was the curtain raiser for the Springboks v All Blacks game on 7 September, in which they beat the Barbarian Women comprehensively, scoring nine tries to three for a 59-17 victory. The second match, against Spain on 12 September, was played in extremely windy conditions and against a team that is arguably more cohesive, if not as star-studded, than the Barbarians. The Bok Women again emerged victorious, winning 36-19 and extending their current winning streak over the Spaniards to five matches. In both games, the Bok Women’s powerful scrum was a highlight – true South African rugby heritage.
They’ll be feeling confident heading into the WXV 2 contest with those results to bolster them, as well as the retention of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup earlier this year, but they’ll also know that they face tough competition over the next three weeks. The Springbok Women are currently ranked 12th in the World Rugby standings, while their opponents, Japan, Australia, and Italy, are ranked 11th, 6th, and 10th respectively. WXV 2 offers them the opportunity to continue to build on their recent performances, and also to move up those rankings, with SARU having targeted a rise to the top 8 as one of their goals for this team.
Having already qualified for next year’s World Cup, the Bok Women will also be using this competition to continue their preparations for that showpiece. They’ll be hoping for a much better showing than in the last iteration, in which they failed to win any of their games. Access to truly competitive matches, such as those being played in the WXV 2 competition, as well as the recently announced central contracting model that will come into effect in 2025, are likely to go a long way towards improving their chances of success.
The Springbok Women play Japan on Friday, 27 September at 16:00 at the DHL Stadium. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster, and are only R35 each for adults (or R25 each if you buy two), and R10 each for kids under 18 – ridiculously good value for money!
Their subsequent fixtures are against Australia on Saturday, 5 October at 17:00 at Athlone Stadium, and against Italy on Saturday, 12 October at 14:00 at Athlone Stadium. The full WXV 2 fixture list can be found here.
The Springbok Women have named a strong side for the opening clash against Japan, who are sure to push for a fast-paced game.
Springbok Women
1. Sanelisiwe Charlie (Bulls Daisies) – 19 caps, 5 points (1 try)
2. Lindelwa Gwala (Ealing Trailfinders Women) – 33 caps, 70 points (14 tries)
3. Babalwa Latsha (Harlequins Women) – 30 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
4. Nolusindiso Booi (captain, DHL Western Province) – 46 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
5. Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daisies) – 15 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
6. Sizophila Solontsi (Bulls Daisies) – 22 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
7. Sinazo Mcatshulwa (DHL Western Province) – 32 caps, 45 points (9 tries)
8. Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 22 caps, 45 points (9 tries)
9. Tayla Kinsey (Sharks Women) – 36 caps, 48 points (2 tries, 16 conversions, 2 penalty goals)
10. Nadine Roos (unattached) – 12 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
11. Ayanda Malinga (Bulls Daisies) – 8 Tests, 50 points (10 tries)
12. Chumisa Qawe (Bulls Daisies) – 16 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
13. Eloise Webb (Border Ladies) – 11 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
14. Jakkie Cilliers (Bulls Daisies) – 14 caps, 74 points (7 tries, 15 conversions, 3 penalty goals)
15. Libbie Janse van Rensburg (Bulls Daisies) – 23 caps, 204 points (11 tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalty goals, 1 drop goal)
Replacements:
16. Micke Gunter (Bulls Daisies) – 8 caps, 0 points
17. Yonela Ngxingolo (Bulls Daisies) – 29 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
18. Azisa Mkiva (DHL Western Province) – 10 caps, 0 points
19. Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) – 13 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
20. Catha Jacobs (Leicester Tigers Women) – 16 caps, 5 points (1 try)
21. Anathi Qolo (Bulls Daisies) – 4 caps, 0 points
22. Unam Tose (Bulls Daisies) – 20 Tests, 0 points
23. Zintle Mpupha (Bulls Daisies) – 21 caps, 101 points (19 tries, 3 conversions)
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