Nolusindiso Booi will lead a South Africa Springbok Women’s team filled with experience as they take on the Barbarians Women at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.
Head coach Swys de Bruin, along with his coaching staff, has infused the squad with fresh talent, naming several new players in the match-day 23.
Booi, South Africa’s most capped women’s player, will have Tayla Kinsey and Lindelwa Gwala, the most experienced scrumhalf and hooker respectively, alongside her on the field.
The squad also sees the return of Ayanda Malinga, Nadine Roos, Eloise Webb, and Felicia Jacobs—all recent members of the Springbok Women’s Sevens team.
Roos is set to make her debut at flyhalf, while Webb will start at outside centre, and Malinga will take up position on the wing. Jacobs, returning to the team for the first time since 2021, will be a key option off the bench as scrumhalf.
“I am so excited to announce this group of players for this match—it was great to be involved with them over the last three weeks, and I loved every minute of this new journey,” said De Bruin.
“This team has good experience, but also some exciting new additions. The players are so keen, not only to learn but to leave their own mark on the game. They want to make the country proud and take Springbok Women’s rugby to new levels.”
De Bruin urged fans to show their support: “The Springboks and All Blacks will be a massive game, but so will our match against a star-studded Baabaas team. I really hope we can get the support the players deserve on Saturday. It is going to be a huge day of rugby.”
Only four players—Byrhandré Dolf, Jakkie Cilliers, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, and Babalwa Latsha—return from the side that played against the Barbarians almost a year ago at Athlone Stadium, a match that ended in a 38-26 defeat for the Springbok Women.
Booi, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Danelle Lochner, Micke Gunter, Vainah Ubisi, and Yonela Ngxingolo also featured in that encounter. Malinga and Sizophila Solontsi were part of the historic first clash between the sides at Twickenham in London in November 2021.
Laurian Johannes-Haupt, one of the assistant coaches, emphasized the significance of the upcoming match: “It will be huge for us, playing at home for the first time this year and also running out at DHL Stadium for the first time. That aside, we are eager to get going into our first real assessment of the new squad and where we stand with regards to WXV. We are playing very experienced opponents who are widely acknowledged for their decision-making and skills on rugby fields all over the world. We are counting the days to get stuck in.”
The Springbok Women’s clash with the Barbarians will be a key test as they continue to build towards the WXV tournament, and with a mix of seasoned players and exciting new talent, the team is poised to put on a strong performance in front of a home crowd.
Springbok Women team to face the Barbarians in Cape Town:
15. Byrhandré Dolf (Bulls Daisies) – 14 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
14. Jakkie Cilliers (Bulls Daisies) – 13 caps, 68 points (7 tries, 12 conversions, 3 penalty goals)
13. Eloise Webb (Border Ladies) – 10 Tests, 30 points (6 tries)
12. Chumisa Qawe (Bulls Daisies) – 15 Tests, 15 points (3 tries)
11. Ayanda Malinga (Bulls Daisies) – 8 Tests, 50 points (10 tries)
10. Nadine Roos (unattached) – 11 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
9. Tayla Kinsey (Sharks Women) – 35 caps, 48 points (2 tries, 16 conversions, 2 penalty goals)
8. Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 21 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
7. Sinazo Mcatshulwa (DHL Western Province) – 31 caps, 45 points (9 tries)
6. Sizophila Solontsi (Bulls Daisies) – 21 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
5. Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daisies) – 14 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
4. Nolusindiso Booi (captain, DHL Western Province) – 45 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
3. Babalwa Latsha (Harlequins Women) – 29 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
2. Lindelwa Gwala (Ealing Trailfinders Women) – 32 caps, 60 points (12 tries)
1. Sanelisiwe Charlie (Bulls Daisies) – 18 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Replacements:
16. Micke Gunter (Bulls Daisies) – 8 caps, 0 points
17. Yonela Ngxingolo (Bulls Daisies) – 28 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
18. Azisa Mkiva (DHL Western Province) – 9 caps, 0 points
19. Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) – 12 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
20. Sinelitha Noxeke (Bulls Daisies) – 2 caps, 0 points
21. Felicia Jacobs (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 5 Tests, 5 points (1 try)
22. Libbie Janse van Rensburg (Bulls Daisies) – 22 caps, 199 points (10 tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalty goals, 1 drop goal)
23. Zintle Mpupha (Bulls Daisies) – 20 Tests, 101 points (19 tries, 3 conversions)
Source: SA Rugby
