The Springbok Women will open their Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 campaign with a squad laden with Test and World Cup experience when they take on Brazil at Franklin’s Garden in Northampton on Sunday, 24 August.
Kick-off is at 15:45 (SA time).
Only four players in the starting team – Byrhandrѐ Dolf (fullback), Maceala Samboya and Ayanda Malinga (wings) and Danelle Lochner (lock) – have not played in a RWC before, while Vainah Ubisi (lock) and Nombuyekezo Mdliki (prop) are the only replacements who have not played in the global showpiece previously.
Midfield duo
The remainder of the match-23 have already experienced the pressures of the Rugby World Cup.
In fact, the same midfield duo of Zintle Mpupha and Aphiwe Ngwevu, loose forward combination of Aseza Hele, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Sizophila Solontsi and front row of Sanelisiwe Charlie, Lindelwa Gwala and Babalwa Latsha, all started in the RWC opener against France in Auckland in 2022.
The halfbacks, Nadine Roos and Libbie Janse van Rensburg, also played in that Eden Park Test, although Roos started at fullback and not scrumhalf as she will on Sunday, as did the Bok captain on that day, Nolusindiso Booi, who will again wear the number four jersey and lead her team on the field.
Catha Jacobs and Unam Tose, both on the bench in Northampton, had the same responsibilities in Auckland.
With only six of his match day squad without RWC experience, coach Swys de Bruin said he is expecting a measured and calculated approach from his squad against newcomers Brazil, who will be an awkward opponent.
Record caps
Booi will continue her trailblazing appearances in the Green and Gold, extending both her Test record of 52 caps, as well as that of captain (25).
Latsha (most appearances at prop), Gwala (most appearances at hooker) and Mcatshulwa (most appearances as a loose forward) will also boost personal achievements, while amongst the points’ scorers, Libbie Janse van Rensburg (209 points) and Zintle Mpupha (20 tries) can both extend their national mark in Test matches.
TEAMS
South Africa
15 Byrhandré Dolf – 22 caps, 37 points (7 tries, 1 conversion), 14 Maceala Samboya – 4 caps, 20 points (4 tries), 13 Zintle Mpupha – 26 caps, 106 points (20 tries, 3 conversions), 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu – 27 caps, 60 points (12 tries), 11 Ayanda Malinga – 13 caps, 65 points (13 tries), 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg – 27 caps, 209 points (12 tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalty goals, 1 drop goal), 9 Nadine Roos – 18 caps, 35 points (5 tries, 5 conversions), 8 Aseza Hele – 28 caps, 65 points (13 tries), 7 Sinazo Mcatshulwa – 38 caps, 55 points (11 tries), 6 Sizophila Solontsi – 28 caps, 45 points (9 tries), 5 Danelle Lochner – 19 caps, 10 points (2 tries), 4 Nolusindiso Booi (captain) – 52 caps, 5 points (1 try), 3 Babalwa Latsha (vice-captain) – 36 caps, 30 points (6 tries), 2 Lindelwa Gwala – 35 caps, 75 points (15 tries), 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie – 26 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Replacements: 16 Micke Gunter – 13 caps, 5 points (1 try), 17 Yonela Ngxingolo – 35 caps, 15 points (3 tries), 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki – 5 caps, 0 points, 19 Vainah Ubisi – 18 caps, 15 points (3 tries), 20 Lerato Makua – 15 caps, 15 points (3 tries), 21 Catha Jacobs – 22 caps, 5 points (1 try), 22 Unam Tose – 27 caps, 12 points (2 tries, 1 conversion), 23 Jakkie Cilliers – 19 caps, 106 points (9 tries, 23 conversions, 5 penalty goals)
Brazil
15 Bianca Silva, 14 Giovanna Barth Moreira, 13 Marina Fioravanti, 12 Mariana Nicolau, 11 Edna Santini, 10 Raquel Kochhann, 9 Aline Mayumi Bednarski, 8 Camilla Carvalho, 7 Larissa Alves Carvalho, 6 Larissa Fernanda LIma Silva Hendwood, 5 Marcelle da Cruz de Souza, 4 Eshyllen Coimbra, 3 Tais Gomes da Costa Prioste, 2 Julia Leni de Lima, 1 Franciele Barros
Replacements: 16 Isabela Gomes Saccomanno, 17 Samara Vergara, 18 Giovana Mamede, 19 Dayana Dakar, 20 Leticia Silva Ferreira, 21 Luiza Gonzalez da Costa Campos, 22 Fernanda Tenorio, 23 Isadora Lopes
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Holly Wood (England), Jess Ling (Australia)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)
Records
- Nolusindiso Booi will extend her record as most capped Bok Women player. She was also captain for the 24th time, another team record.
- Booi (lock, 52), Babalwa Latsha (prop, 36), Sinazo Mcatshulwa (flanker, 38), Lindelwa Gwala (hooker, 35) will extend their records in those positions.
- Libbie Janse van Rensburg could extend the record (209) for most points in a test career for the Springbok Women.
- Zintle Mpupha could extend the record for most tries (20) in a Test career for the Springbok Women.
Rugby World Cup records
Most RWC appearances
- Zandile Nojoko (15)
- Lamla Momoti, Zenay Jordaan (13)
- Cebisa Kula (12)
- Nolusindiso Booi (11)
Most RWC points
26: Zandile Njoko
Biggest win: 25-10 vs Kazakhstan, 2010
Biggest defeat: 0-75 vs England, 2022
Match information
Date: Sunday, 23 August
Venue: Franklin’s Garden, Northampton
Kick-off: 15:45 (SA time)
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Holly Wood (England), Jess Ling (Australia)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)
Bunker: Rachel Horton (Australia)
Do you plan on watching the Springbok Women in action at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025?
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