Coach Stanley Raubenheimer has selected an inexperienced Springbok Women lineup for Saturday’s clash with the Barbarians at Twickenham.
The Springbok Women will be eager to extend the surge of tries scored during their November tour but, for that to happen, the South Africans will have to stay true to their objectives and execution.
That was the message from Raubenheimer who named a fairly inexperienced side to take on the star-studded BaaBaas in the first match between the sides.
South Africa scored three second-half tries against Wales two weeks ago and then six against England U20 on Sunday.
“We have progressed well over the past three weeks, but we have not changed what we are working on, and we will continue to look for improvement in those areas in our final game,” Raubenheimer said.
“We are striving for better possession and to keep the ball for longer. By doing that, we can control the game better. We saw an improvement of that in recent weeks which resulted in tries, so that will again be a focus area for us.
“We realise we are playing the Baabaas, so we will be looking at opportunities where we can cut loose from anywhere on the field and can hopefully emulate them in that regard,” said Raubenheimer.
The coach had his hand slightly forced with his final team selection due injuries to Test starters Nadine Roos (wing), Zintle Mpupha (centre), Tayla Kinsey (scrumhalf) and Libbie Janse van Rensburg (flyhalf) at the back.
“At least I could pick a full complement of backline players, despite those injuries. The midfield combination of Jakkie Cilliers and Qumisa Qawe is a young one and Unam Tose will start for the first time on tour,” he explained.
Up front, Catha Jacobs swops places with Sinazo Mcatshulwa on the side of the scrum from the team that played Wales, with the latter playing off the bench, while prop Asithandile Ntoyanto will earn a first start on tour after playing off the bench in Vannes and Cardiff.
Raubenheimer also named Micke Gunter at hooker after a first tour appearance on Sunday, with Lindelwa Gwala, who started against Wales two weeks ago, moving to the bench.
Gwala, Mcatshulwa and Lerato Makua are the only players on the bench that saw action in Wales. Both replacement props, Sanelisiwe Charlie and Monica Mazibukwana, had their first taste of the tour last Sunday, as did Rumandi Potgieter and Donelle Snyders. Ayanda Malinga came off the bench in France, but was forced to leave the field as she took a knock to the head.
The match kicks of 7:15pm on Saturday and will be broadcast by SuperSport.
Springbok Women – 15 Eloise Webb, 14 Nomawethu Mabenge, 13 Jakkie Cilliers, 1 Chumisa Qawe, 11 Simamkele Namba, 10 Zenay Jordaan, 9 Unam Tose, 8 Sizophila Solontsi, 7 Catha Jacobs, 6 Lusanda Dumke, 5 Rights Mkhari, 4 Nolusindiso Booi (c), 3 Babalwa Latsha, 2 Micke Gunter, 1 Asithandile Ntoyanto.
Subs: 16 Lindelwa Gwala, 17 Sanelisiwe Charlie, 18 Monica Mazibukwana, 19 Lerato Makua, 20 Sinazo Mcatshulwa, 21 Rumandi Potgieter, 22 Ayanda Malinga, 23 Donelle Snyders.
