Springbok Women ready to tackle European challenges

The Springbok Women squad takes off from South Africa on Sunday evening with excitement and optimism in the air, but also with a real sense of reality on what awaits them in France, Wales and England over next four weeks.

The squad will play against France in Vannes next Saturday before facing Wales in Cardiff a week later. The Springboks then move to England where they will train against the strong English squad before playing a practise match against England Under-20 in three weeks’ time. The tour concludes with a match against the Barbarians at Twickenham in what will be a historic first for the Springbok Women.

France await Springbok Women

History aside, the aim on tour will be to get their ducks in a row before next year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, where the Springbok Women will face France in the opening round. According to coach Stanley Raubenheimer, it is for this very reason why they have requested this encounter against the powerful French side.

“We have not played much rugby the last two years due to various reasons, so we need a reality check on where we are with our progress and preparation,” reckons Raubenheimer.

“France are currently ranked third on the world rankings, so to measure ourselves against them will be a good reference point on what we need to do before the RWC tournament in New Zealand next year.”

The Springbok Women coach sees the tempo of play on tour as a crucial element to master.

“We don’t want to leave it until next year to see what France have to offer and by playing them now, we will see where we are intensity-wise and what step-up would be required. Another interesting aspect of the tour is that we will be playing four matches in as many weeks, another important factor our players will be exposed too.”

Growing in experience on and off the field

Raubenheimer was also at the helm of the Springbok Women during the side’s last visit to Wales, where the home side edged them in Cardiff.

“I don’t think there is much of a difference between the two sides, but the reality is that Wales have a lot more games under the belt as a result of playing in the Six Nations, compared to us who were mostly inactive the past two seasons,” said Raubenheimer.

Raubenheimer has named a bigger Springbok Women’s squad than normal, resulting in a number of players who haven’t yet played in the Green and Gold jersey.

“We have seven debutants on tour, and they are there for a reason. I cannot guarantee that they will all play on tour, but they will be exposed to international rugby nonetheless by being part of the touring squad and the team environment. They need to show me in training why they want me to take them to New Zealand,” added Raubenheimer.

There is a healthy core of experienced players in the Springbok Women group, amongst them flanker Lusanda Dumke. With tour captain, Sindi Booi unavailable at the time, Dumke captained her country against Kenya in the two Test-series staged in Stellenbosch in August and she also helped her provincial outfit, Border, to lift the SA Rugby Premier Division crown a couple of weeks later.

Dumke said the Springbok Women are keen to get on the plane and will be doing so with gratitude and no fear.

“We are all very pleased for this opportunity. This squad is one that just want to go out and play rugby as we love the game. The fact that we are playing France first-up could be a daunting task as they are one of the best teams in the world, but what do we have to lose? The pressure will be on them, not on us and we will be able to focus on what we want to achieve in the game,” explains Dumke.

“There is a good mix of experience and youth in the squad and this create a nice vibe and lots of energy. We tend to play well when the vibe is good, so we cannot wait to get over to France and get going.”

Springbok Women centre Jakkie Cilliers is one of several new faces in the squad; she only started playing for the Leopards in 2021. According to her, her outlook on the tour is one of learning what test rugby throws at you, adapting as much as possible and constant improvement.

The outside centre scored 10 points on debut against Kenya in August and feels that performance gives her some comfort of what awaits on this long-haul trip.

“No doubt, this will be a tour of learnings for the squad,” said the Northwest University student. “For many of us this will be our first overseas trip and will face our opponents for the first time, and that makes it very exciting. The travelling schedule and the rugby on consecutive weekend as well as the quality and intensity of play will be something we will experience for the first time as a squad and if we stick together, we can move only forward.”

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Springbok Women tour squad (in alphabetical order):

Nolusindiso Booi (DHL WP, captain) – lock, 24 caps

Roseline Botes (DHL WP) – hooker, uncapped

Sanelisiwe Charlie (EP Queens) – prop, 2 caps

Jakkie Cilliers (Leopards) – centre, 1 cap

Lusanda Dumke (Border Women) – loose forward, 8 caps

Micke Gunter (Cell C Sharks) – hooker, 1 cap

Lindelwa Gwala (Cell C Sharks) – hooker, 10 caps

Catha Jacobs (Blue Bulls Women) – utility forward, 2 caps

Libbie Janse van Rensburg (Blue Bulls Women) – flyhalf, 2 caps

Zenay Jordaan (EP Queens) – flyhalf, 28 caps

Tayla Kinsey (Cell C Sharks Women) – scrumhalf, 15 caps

Babalwa Latsha (DHL WP) – prop, 9 caps

Nomawethu Mabenge (EP Queens) – wing, 2 caps

Lerato Makua (Blue Bulls Women) – lock, uncapped

Ayanda Malinga (Blue Bulls Women) – wing, 3 caps

Monica Mazibukwana (EP Queens) – hooker/prop, uncapped

Sinazo Mcatshulwa (DHL WP) – loose forward, 8 caps

Rights Mkhari (Blue Bulls Women) – lock, 3 caps

Zintle Mpupha (DHL WP) – centre, 7 caps

Simamkele Namba (DHL WP) – wing, uncapped

Ziyanda Ngohlekana (SWD) – loose forward, 1 cap

Yonela Ngxingolo (Border Women) – prop, 10 caps

Asithandile Ntoyanto (Border Women) – prop, 5 caps

Amahle Nyoba (EP Queens) – prop, uncapped

Rumandi Potgieter (Blue Bulls Women) – scrumhalf, uncapped.

Chumisa Qawe (DHL WP) – centre, 4 caps

Nadine Roos (Boland Dames) – wing, uncapped

Donelle Snyders (DHL WP) – utility back, 2 caps

Sizophila Solontsi (Cell C Sharks Women) – loose forward, 6 caps

Tania Scholtz (Guernsey) – hooker, uncapped

Bernice Strydom (Boland Dames) – lock, 3 caps

Unam Tose (Border Women) – scrumhalf, 3 caps

Eloise Webb (Boland Dames) – fullback, 5 caps