Springbok Women team to face USA confirmed with new captain announced

Babalwa Latsha will captain the Springbok Women on a permanent basis for the first time after being named skipper for Saturday’s Test against the USA at Ellis Park, with Swys de Bruin selecting a settled side.

The experienced tighthead prop succeeds long-serving captain Nolusindiso Booi, who retired from international rugby after last season. It will be the 41st Test cap for Latsha, making her South Africa’s most-capped tighthead prop, while she has previously captained the side on 15 occasions.

De Bruin has made minimal changes to the side that reached the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals last year. Only wing Alichia Arries and No.8 Logan Welman did not feature during that tournament, with both rewarded after impressive recent performances.

There is also a slight reshuffle in the backline, with Jakkie Cilliers switching to the right wing and Ayanda Malinga moving into outside centre. Up front, Thandile Mazwi is in line for another appearance after being named among a six-forward, two-back replacements bench.

South Africa will be looking to make a statement against the USA, with the visitors providing the ideal benchmark as the Springbok Women continue their preparations for another World Cup cycle.

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Women's Internationals

South Africa Women

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USA Women

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“Babalwa is a natural leader and one of the best in the world in her position, which made it an easy decision,” de Bruin said. “She has a lot of captaincy experience and often stood in for Nolusindiso in the past, and she did very well.

“That split has worked well for us last year and we have the players to continue with that plan.”

Babalwa Latsha said: “It is a massive honour and I am very proud to be entrusted with this responsibility.

“We had a great leader in Nolusindiso Booi over the last number of years, and I was lucky that I could learn a lot from her.

“It is not about me however, but rather our team and the goals we have set to continue the good work we have done, especially last year when we qualified for the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

“It is great playing the USA here at home for the first time. They have been a very consistent team over many years, exactly the type of opponent we want to measure ourselves against.

“We believe we are on an upward curve and they will test that. It is going to be a fantastic Test match, and we can’t wait for the opportunity to play at home.”

Springbok Women XV: 15 Byrhandré Dolf; 14 Jakkie Cilliers, 13 Ayanda Malinga, 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 11 Alichia Arries; 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Unam Tose; 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie, 2 Micke Gunter, 3 Babalwa Latsha (capt), 4 Vainah Ubisi, 5 Danelle Lochner, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 7 Catha Jacobs, 8 Logan Welman
Replacements: 16 Anushka Groenewald, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Thandile Mazwi, 19 Anathi Qolo, 20 Sinelitha Noxeke, 21 Faith Tshauke, 22 Felicia Jacobs, 23 Eloise Webb