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South Africa’s women set to make history on home soil in a blockbuster double-header alongside the Springboks and All Blacks in Soweto.
JOHANNESBURG — South African women’s rugby is set to reach a defining milestone this Saturday as the Springbok Women host the New Zealand Black Ferns at the iconic FNB Stadium in Soweto.
The encounter marks the first-ever Test match between the two nations played on South African soil. Adding to the magnitude of the occasion, the contest serves as the opening fixture in a historic Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry double-header, preceding the third Test between the Springboks and the All Blacks.
A Landmark Stage for Women’s Rugby
Almost a year after their spirited quarter-final clash at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, the South Africans are relishing the opportunity to measure their rapid growth against the gold standard of international women’s rugby.
Springbok Women captain Babalwa Latsha, who etched her name into the history books by scoring South Africa’s opening try against New Zealand at the World Cup, emphasized the significance of running out at Africa’s largest stadium.
“It is almost surreal to think we are playing each other for the first time in South Africa on the occasion of a Test match in ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ between the Springboks and All Blacks,” said Latsha. “We certainly hope that this could be the start of something similar. We are slowly making our way into the top echelons of the game, which will allow us more matches against the Black Ferns. To share such an occasion with our male counterparts will be huge.”
Ubisi Primed for Redemption in the Engine Room
A central figure in South Africa’s charge will be 23-year-old lock Vainah Ubisi, who enters the contest in scintillating form. Having made her Test debut at just 20, Ubisi quickly established herself as the bedrock of the national pack, earning 26 caps.
After a severe knee injury disrupted her 2025 World Cup campaign, restricting her to an impact role off the bench during the quarter-final defeat, Ubisi has roared back to peak physical condition. Strong performances in the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 1 were backed up by dominant international displays, where she crossed the try-line in the home victory against the USA Eagles and in consecutive Tests during the recent tour of Fiji.
“Feeling strong and confident in my abilities also helps me in my game management,” Ubisi noted during squad preparations. “I am not waiting for something to happen; I see it as my job at lock to make this happen. We are the engine room after all.”
“At the World Cup, they did not see the best of me. My Black Ferns experience was not the greatest, but now less than a year later, I can redeem that. I am confident in my current form, they are coming to face us on our home soil, and we face off in the biggest stadium in the country. What more can one ask for?”
Squad Continuity and Key Returns
Head coach management assembled a 32-player training camp in Sandton earlier this week. The squad boasts significant continuity, retaining 16 players from the match-day 23 that lined up in last year’s World Cup quarter-final.
The squad receives a major boost with the return of several frontline stars who were rested during the recent tour to Fiji:
- Forwards: Sanelisiwe Charlie, Micke Gunter, Danelle Lochner, and Logan Welman.
- Backs: Unam Tose, Jakkie Cilliers, and midfield powerhouse Aphiwe Ngwevu.
The team will, however, navigate several injury setbacks. Nadine Roos, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Eloise Webb, and Anathi Qolo have been ruled out, while lock Lerato Makua remains doubtful despite being named in the broader squad.
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Springbok Women 32-Player Training Squad
Position | Player | Provincial Union / Club | Caps (Points) |
Props / Hookers | Babalwa Latsha (c) | DHL Western Province | 43 (40 pts) |
Sanelisiwe Charlie | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 32 (10 pts) | |
Yonela Ngxingolo | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 46 (20 pts) | |
Lindelwa Gwala | Sharks Women | 40 (85 pts) | |
Micke Gunter | Leicester Tigers | 18 (10 pts) | |
Nombuyekezo Mdliki | Border Ladies | 15 (10 pts) | |
Xoliswa Khuzwayo | Golden Lions Women | 14 (10 pts) | |
Anushka Groenewald | DHL Western Province | 10 (0 pts) | |
Locks / Utility Forwards | Catha Jacobs | Golden Lions Women | 30 (5 pts) |
Vainah Ubisi | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 26 (35 pts) | |
Danelle Lochner | Harlequins Women | 24 (10 pts) | |
Lerato Makua | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 20 (20 pts) | |
Nomsa Mokwai | DHL Western Province | 19 (0 pts) | |
Loose Forwards | Sizophila Solontsi | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 35 (50 pts) |
Aseza Hele | Sanlam Boland Dames | 34 (85 pts) | |
Sinelitha Noxeke | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 9 (5 pts) | |
Nobuhle Mjwara | Sharks Women | 8 (10 pts) | |
Logan Welman | DHL Western Province | 5 (25 pts) | |
Halfbacks & Flyhalves | Libbie Janse van Rensburg | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 34 (221 pts) |
Unam Tose | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 31 (17 pts) | |
Felicia Jacobs | Sanlam Boland Dames | 13 (15 pts) | |
Anacadia Minnaar | EP Queens | 8 (3 pts) | |
Centres & Outside Backs | Aphiwe Ngwevu | Border Ladies | 35 (80 pts) |
Zintle Mpupha | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 31 (106 pts) | |
Byrhandré Dolf | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 29 (81 pts) | |
Jakkie Cilliers | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 26 (157 pts) | |
Ayanda Malinga | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 19 (85 pts) | |
Maceala Samboya | Sanlam Boland Dames | 10 (25 pts) | |
Alichia Arries | DHL Western Province | 9 (25 pts) | |
Patience Mokone | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 5 (20 pts) | |
Shiniqwa Lamprecht | Sanlam Boland Dames | 2 (0 pts) | |
Maria Tshiremba | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 1 (15 pts) |
What to Expect Next
The official Springbok Women match-23 for Saturday’s Test will be named on Thursday. Gates at FNB Stadium are expected to open early to accommodate the massive crowd anticipated for this historic double-header in Johannesburg.
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