Latsha to captain Springbok Women in historic Black Ferns Test

Babalwa Latsha will captain the Springbok Women when they face New Zealand’s Black Ferns in a landmark Test at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The 13h30 match will be the first time South Africa’s women host New Zealand on home soil and will be broadcast on SuperSport.

Latsha is one of six forwards retained from the Springbok Women side that started against the Black Ferns in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England almost a year ago. New Zealand won that match 46-17.

Vainah Ubisi and Catha Jacobs were among South Africa’s replacements for that fixture and have since moved into the starting XV for the Soweto encounter. They replace Nolusindiso Booi, who has retired, and the injured Sinazo Mcatshulwa.

Latsha will again pack down in the front row alongside Sanelisiwe Charlie and Lindelwa Gwala. Ubisi partners Danelle Lochner in the second row, while Jacobs joins Sizophila Solontsi and Aseza Hele in the back row.

Anushka Groenewald, Nomsa Mokwai, Logan Welman and hybrid player Shiniqwa Lamprecht will provide forward cover from the bench. All four are set to face the Black Ferns for the first time.

There are five returning starters among the backs: Byrhandre Dolf, Zintle Mpupha, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Ayanda Malinga and Libbie Janse van Rensburg.

Unam Tose comes in at scrumhalf for the injured Nadine Roos, while Maceala Samboya moves to the replacements. Alichia Arries starts on the wing, with Anacadia Minnaar named as the replacement scrumhalf.

Tose, Minnaar and Arries will all make their first appearances against New Zealand.

Laurian Johannes-Haupt said the coaching staff had strong selection options before finalising the squad. She is co-coaching the Springbok Women this week with Franzel September and believes the group is ready for the occasion.

“We have managed to build some extra depth since that match earlier this season when we played in the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and the two series against the USA Eagles Women and Fijiana,” said Johannes-Haupt.

“We believe this is the right squad for this game, and we go to FNB Stadium with a very specific game plan in mind.

“We have certain characteristics as Springbok Women and that include being very physical in our first phase, so there is no reason to move away from that. We are aware of what the Black Ferns will bring, but selected this group because we want to play a certain way, not in reaction to who might be in their team.”

Johannes-Haupt played against New Zealand at the 2010 Women’s World Cup and said Saturday’s fixture reflected the progress made by both the Springbok Women and the women’s game more broadly.

“This is a big moment for us as a team, but we will make sure the focus remains between the four lines, where the Blacks Ferns will no doubt come with a massive onslaught.”

Springbok Women team

15 Byrhandre Dolf, 14 Alichia Arries, 13 Zintle Mpupha, 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 11 Ayanda Malinga, 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Unam Tose, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Catha Jacobs, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Danelle Lochner, 4 Vainah Ubisi, 3 Babalwa Latsha, 2 Lindelwa Gwala, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie.

Replacements: 16 Anushka Groenewald, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19 Nomsa Mokwai, 20 Shiniqwa Lamprecht, 21 Logan Welman, 22 Anacadia Minnaar, 23 Maceala Samboya.