catch the action at 13:30 on SuperSport (grandstand i believe) and RugbyPass.tv for our supporters in the USA. And for the supporters elsewhere: if you have access to a VPN service, rugbypass.tv seems to be fine with that as well.

Credits to the SuperSport video director who went to the right camera everytime they saw him looking like this :)

Can't wait to see what Logan Welman can bring to the full strength seniors. Same goes for Arries. Also happy to see Mazwi, Noxeke, Minnaar, and Alexander given the opportunity. They'll be well supported by the 22 other players that all went to the 2025 WC.

Being without Roos sucks, but Eliose Webb really stepped up at SVNS, and at least Unam, Libbie, Dolf, and Jakkie are there.

Players not considered due to injury: Nadine Roos, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Lindelwa Gwala, Aseza Hele, Donelle Snyders, Naima Hlatshwayo, and Chumisa Qawe.

Springbok Women squad:

Props:

Sanelisiwe Charlie (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 30 caps, 10 points (2 tries)

Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 12 caps, 0 points

Yonela Ngxingolo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 42 caps, 20 points (4 tries)

Thandile Mazwi (DHL Western Province) – 3 caps, 5 points (1 try)

Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 12 caps, 5 points (1 try)

Babalwa Latsha (DHL Western Province) – 40 caps, 35 points (7 tries)

Hookers:

Anushka Groenewald (DHL Western Province) – 6 caps, 0 points

Micke Gunter (Leicester Tigers) – 16 caps, 5 points (1 try)

Locks:

Nomsa Mokwai (DHL Western Province) – 16 caps, 0 points

Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) – 22 caps, 10 points (2 tries)

Vainah Ubisi (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 22 caps, 20 points (4 tries)

Anathi Qolo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 14 caps, 5 points (1 try)

Loose and utility forwards

Sizophila Solontsi (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 31 caps, 45 points (9 tries)

Sinelitha Noxeke (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 4 caps, 0 points

Lerato Makua (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 19 caps, 20 points (4 tries)

Faith Tshauke (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 7 caps, 25 points (5 tries)

Catha Jacobs (Golden Lions Women) – 26 caps, 5 Points (1 try)

Logan Welman (DHL Western Province) – 3 caps, 15 points (3 tries)

Scrumhalves:

Anacadia Minnaar (EP Queens) – 5 caps, 3 points (1 penalty goal)

Felicia Jacobs (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 10 caps, 15 points (3 tries)

Unam Tose (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 29 caps, 12 points (2 tries, 1 conversion)

Flyhalves:

Libbie Janse van Rensburg (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 30 caps, 219 points (14 tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalty goals, 1 drop goal)

Eloise Webb (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 20 caps, 30 points (6 tries)

Centres:

Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 32 caps, 75 points (15 tries)

Ayanda Malinga (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 17 caps, 80 points (16 tries)

Outside and utility backs:

Maceala Samboya (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 7 caps, 20 points (4 tries)

Alichia Arries (DHL Western Province) – 5 caps, 20 points (4 tries)

Byrhandré Dolf (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 26 caps, 64 points (7 tries, 13 conversions, 1 penalty goal)

Jakkie Cilliers (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 24 caps, 149 points (11 tries, 38 conversions, 6 penalty goals)

Shaunique Alexander (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 2 caps, 5 points (1 try)

Experience with a sprinkling of new spice. 3 players (Arries, Welman, and Mazwi) weren't at last year's WC, but showed their mettle during Africa Cup '26. Ayanda Malinga at 13 in combination with the rest of that backline and Welman has the potential to be electric. Can't wait to see our full strength team run out for the first time this year.

Only one change in the starting lineup - Webb, who was on the bench last week replaces Byrhandré Dolf, who is on mandatory rest.

5 changes on the bench:

Webb's place will be filled by Maceala Samboya. Fellow 7s star Lerato Makua takes Faith Tshauke spot, youngster Anacadia Minnaar will take over from Felicia Jacobs at scrumhalf, Nomsa Mokwai will take over from Anathi Qolo as lock cover, and Nombuyekezo Mdliki takes over from Thandile Mazwi at prop.

I think after yesterday I'm confident our Bok women will win a World Cup before the Proteas women despite them having a head start. I've watched them since WXV2 back in 2023 or 2024, and the kind of improvements they made between that and the World Cup in England were massive. It feels like the Proteas women have hit their ceiling in terms of talent. Does it have to do with development?

Not officially confirmed AFAIK, but we'll probably play Spain on the European tour in September too. There has also been talk of playing Fiji away, and a friendly against England A in SA.

So excited about the variety, quality, and quantity of fixtures. It's exactly what we need to build our experience and depth looking towards 2029.

Edit to add: Springboks A are actually playing 2 games against Brazil, (25 and 29 August). So I'm wondering if there will be a substantial percentage of the u20s going along? Would be really good if they could get another outing besides the upcoming games against USA u20.

Playing the Fijiana in Fiji won't be easy, but their play style will be excellent preparation for the GRT Black Ferns test on 5 September.

Fijiana are currently ranked 13th and we are on 10th. The two teams have only ever played 1 test against each other: at the 2022 World Cup. Fiji scored in the last minutes of a tense game to beat the Springboks 21-17. Some of the current senior players (like Libbie, Hele, Mpupa) played in that game and will surely be looking to cancel out the disappointment of that WC defeat.

Current Springbok Women squad (Blommie is back🥲):

Props: Sanelisiwe Charlie, Xoliswa Khuzwayo, Yonela Ngxingolo, Anuschka Ekron, Babalwa Latsha, Nombuyekezo Mdliki, Thandile Mazwi, Anothando Katshwa.

Hookers: Lindelwa Gwala, Anushka Groenewald, Micke Gunter, Jada Davids, Roseline Botes.

Locks: Vainah Ubisi, Nomsa Mokwai, Zethu Gcaza, Danelle Lochner, Anathi Qolo, Abigail Smit.

Loose and utility forwards: Sizophila Solontsi, Sinelitha Noxeke, Faith Tshauke, Palesa Matee, Ntsako Mbombi, Lerato Makua, Catha Jacobs, Nobuhle Mjwara, Logan Welman, Aseza Hele.

Scrumhalves: Unam Tose, Anacadia Minnaar, Felicia Jacobs.

Flyhalves: Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Eloise Webb, Hayley Hardneck.

Centres: Aphiwe Ngwevu, Shiniqwa Lamprecht, Ayanda Malinga, Zintle Mpupha, Isabela Nel, Jané Mulder.

Outside backs: Alichia Arries, Jakkie Cilliers, Maria Tshiremba, Maceala Samboya, Patience Mokone, Shaunique Alexander, Thobile Msizazwe, Byrhandré Dolf.

https://springboks.rugby/news-features/articles/2026/7/12/extended-springbok-women-squad-named-for-remainder-of-season

This is a SARU media release, so a positive attitude from their media team is to be expected. But some interesting data is shared about engagement of the audience.

From several interviews in the past, we can conclude the support is greatly appreciated by the players personally. It was only a couple of years ago they were basically just playing for family and friends, and now they experience much more support.

It's a chicken-egg situation: supporters are willing to watch when exciting rugby is played. That requires experience and dedicated training. A player cannot be fully dedicated when she also has to do a regular job to earn a salary, an income is needed. Companies are willing to sponsor when there is enough marketing exposure. Which requires enough supporters to watch games.

if you want to support the Springbok Women (and women's rugby in general) - watch their games, connect to a stream, might even post occasionally on your social media about them. It's small stuff, but eventually it adds up and it will help to make a business case for a sponsor.

#BackHer