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Springbok Women line-up holds firm despite French thrashing

By Kim Ekin
Sinazo Mcatshulwa of South Africa runs the ball during the Pool C Rugby World Cup 2021 match between South Africa and France at Eden Park on October 08, 2022, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Springbok Women coach Stanley Raubenheimer retained the same starting XV for their second Rugby World Cup clash in New Zealand and made only one change to the replacements for Sunday’s match against Fiji.

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Nolusindiso Booi will lead the same team on the field, while Springbok Women’s Sevens forward Lerato Makua has been named on the bench, where she replaces Catha Jacobs, who played against France at Eden Park on Saturday.

Makua, with five test caps to her name, recently played for South Africa at Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town and could earn a second gong just over a month later in Auckland.

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“Everyone came out of the French opener unscathed, which was really good news for us as it meant we could go with the same group again against Fiji,” said Raubenheimer.

“The players have now experienced the intensity of this Rugby World Cup and showed that they are improving with every Test.

“We again had a slow start due to all the nervous energy and we hope that this time, the same team will be calmer and more focussed in those opening minutes. If we selected a bunch of new players, they would not have been as settled as this group is now.”

Raubenheimer again insisted that the pack had performed well against the French: “The pack of forwards had some nice momentum and showed against France that they can compete with any of the top sides. We want that momentum to continue.”

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“We were looking for a little more speed and mobility and Lerato will give us that, especially in the second half when we hope to attack a bit more.

“We are hoping to tire Fiji out in the first hour and then attack with players such as Lerato, Lusanda Dumke, Roseline Botes and Zenay Jordaan coming on. Catha has done nothing wrong, but she is a more physical player, so we opted for Lerato, who is faster, more mobile and better suited to our plan in the second half.”

The Springbok Women team to face Fiji in Auckland, which kicks off at 06h45 (SA time) in Auckland.:
15. Nadine Roos (Blue Bulls Women)
14. Nomawethu Mabenge (EP Queens)
13. Zintle Mpupha (DHL Western Province)
12. Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies)
11. Simamkele Namba (DHL Western Province)
10. Libbie Janse van Rensburg (Blue Bulls Women)
9. Tayla Kinsey (Cell C Sharks Women)
8. Aseza Hele (Boland Dames)
7. Sinazo Mcatshulwa (DHL Western Province)
6. Sizophila Solontsi (Cell C Sharks Women)
5. Rights Mkhari (Blue Bulls Women)
4. Nolusindiso Booi (captain, DHL Western Province)
3. Babalwa Latsha (DHL Western Province)
2. Lindelwa Gwala (Cell C Sharks Women)
1. Sanelisiwe Charlie (EP Queens)

REPLACEMENTS:
16. Roseline Botes (DHL Western Province)
17. Asithandile Ntoyanto (Border Ladies)
18. Monica Mazibukwana (EP Queens)
19. Lerato Makua (Blue Bulls Women)
20. Lusanda Dumke (Border Ladies)
21. Unam Tose (Border Ladies)
22. Zenay Jordaan (EP Queens)
23. Eloise Webb (Border Ladies)

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Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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