Nolusindiso Booi will lead the a 32-player Springbok Women squad to New Zealand in a third Rugby World Cup for the South African captain and lock.
Zenay Jordaan, who also played in the 2010 and 2014 tournaments, Tayla Kinsey and Asithandile Ntoyanto, who will play in their second tournaments, having represented SA in the 2014 showpiece, are the only other players with Rugby World Cup experience.
The remainder of the squad of 32 players selected by head coach Stanley Raubenheimer and announced by SA Rugby president Mark Alexander on Wednesday in Cape Town, will all make their Rugby World Cup debuts in New Zealand, where the Springbok Women will face France, Fiji and England in Pool C in October.
Six players – Lerato Makua, Zintle Mpupha, Simamkele Namba, Nadine Roos, Sizophila Solontsi and Eloise Webb – also represented the Springbok Women’s Sevens team at the Rugby World Cup Sevens, in what can only be described as a groundbreaking year for women’s rugby in the country.
Raubenheimer said the selection of the squad was fairly easy as they have been building squad depth over a number of seasons.
“We wanted experience in the squad and depth in every position, and I am pleased to say we have achieved that,” said Raubenheimer.
“The pandemic worked for us in that regard as it gave us an extra year to prepare as the tournament was moved to 2022, and we are going to New Zealand knowing that we have given ourselves the best chance possible.
“I feel a sense of anticipation now, thinking back to where we started and how we have grown, and that we are now ready to take on the best teams in the world. We have our objectives and one of them is to not only make the country proud with our effort, but ourselves as well.
“This squad travelled a wonderful journey together and we can now celebrate that by taking on the biggest teams on the biggest stage.”
Booi said she and her fellow squad members have enjoyed the journey thus far.
“The players in the squad, and those that were part of the journey over the last four or five years, all contributed to the effort,” said the Springbok captain.
“Those who helped us qualify way back in 2019 and others that played along the way, but who are not here, we thank you for that.
“To my teammates, we carry the hopes and dreams of many a young girl, but we also carry the responsibility of playing for the SA flag and the Springbok badge. Those demand a standard of excellence, and we are determined to deliver such a performance,” added Booi.
Springbok Women squad for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand:
Props:
Sanelisiwe Charlie (EP Queens) – 4 Tests
Babalwa Latsha (DHL Western Province) – 17 Tests, 10 points (2 tries)
Monica Mazibukwana (EP Queens) – 3 Tests
Azisa Mkiva (DHL Western Province) – 1 Test
Yonela Ngxingolo (Border Ladies) – 18 Tests, 5 points (1 try)
Asithandile Ntoyanto (Border Ladies) – 12 Tests, 10 points (2 tries)
Hookers:
Roseline Botes (DHL Western Province) – 5 Tests, 10 points (2 tries)
Micke Gunter (Cell C Sharks Women) – 3 Tests
Lindelwa Gwala (Cell C Sharks Women) – 18 Tests, 10 points (2 tries)
Locks:
Nolusindiso Booi (captain, DHL Western Province) – 30 Tests, 10 points (2 tries)
Lerato Makua (Blue Bulls Women) – 5 Tests
Nompumelelo Mathe (Cell C Sharks Women) – 8 Tests, 10 points (2 tries).
Catha Jacobs (Blue Bulls Women) – 7 Tests
Loose forwards:
Lusanda Dumke (Border Ladies) – 15 Tests, 25 points (5 tries)
Aseza Hele (Boland Dames) – 13 Tests, 25 points (5 tries)
Sinazo Mcatshulwa (DHL Western Province) – 15 Tests, 35 points (7 tries)
Sizophila Solontsi (Cell C Sharks Women) – 13 Tests, 25 points (five tries)
Utility forward:
Rights Mkhari (Blue Bulls Women) – 8 Tests, 35 points (7 tries)
Scrumhalves:
Tayla Kinsey (Cell C Sharks Women) – 21 Tests, 44 points (2 tries, 14 conversions, 2 penalty goals)
Rumandi Potgieter (Blue Bulls Women) – 3 Tests
Unam Tose (Border Ladies) – 11 Tests
Flyhalves:
Libbie Janse van Rensburg (Blue Bulls Women) – 10 Tests, 96 points (4 tries, 26 conversions, 7 penalty goals, 1 drop goal)
Zenay Jordaan (EP Queens) – 34 Tests, 81 points (10 tries, 11 conversions, 3 penalty goals)
Midfielders:
Jakkie Cilliers (Blue Bulls Women) – 2 Tests, 13 points (1 try, 2 penalty goals, 1 conversion)
Zintle Mpupha (DHL Western Province) – 15 Tests, 86 points (16 tries, 3 conversions)
Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 12 Tests, 35 points (7 tries)
Chumisa Qawe (DHL Western Province) – 9 Tests, 5 points (1 try)
Outside backs:
Nomawethu Mabenge (EP Queens) – 9 Tests, 25 points (5 tries)
Chuma Qawe (DHL Western Province) – 3 Tests
Eloise Webb (Border Ladies) – 7 Tests, 30 points (6 tries)
Utility backs:
Simamkele Namba (DHL Western Province) – 6 Tests, 30 points (6 tries)
Nadine Roos (Blue Bulls Women) – 8 Tests, 25 points (5 tries)
Pool C match schedule (SA kick-off times):
Saturday, 8 October:
3:15am: South Africa vs France – Eden Park, Auckland
Sunday, 16 October:
6:45am: South Africa vs Fiji – Waitakere Stadium, Auckland
Sunday, 23 October
6:45am: South Africa vs England – Waitakere Stadium, Auckland
Photo: Gallo Images
