De Bruin names Springbok Women's team for WXV 2 showdown with Italy

The duo have been called up as injury replacements, with Mabenge set to slot straight into the right-wing berth usually held by Jakkie Cilliers, while former Junior Springbok Women prop Mdliki will be in line to make her Test debut off the bench.

Cilliers, Libbie Janse van Rensburg and Maceala Samboya all picked up injuries in the last week and were ruled out of Saturday's Test.

Swys de Bruin and his coaching staff made a couple of changes to the starting side that just fell short against the Wallaroos last weekend, mostly in the pack, where Nolusindiso Booi returns as captain, resulting in a straight swop with Danelle Lochner, who reverts to being one of the impact players.

Last weekend's captain, Lusanda Dumke, remains at flanker in a new loose forward combination with Catha Jacobs and Sizophila Solontsi, with the duo swopping places with Sinazo Mcatshulwa and Aseze Hele, who drop down to the bench.

The experienced front row of Yonela Nxingolo, Lindelwa Gwala and Babalwa Latsha will be reunited for the first time since July 2022 when they fronted up against Japan in Kamaishi.

Gwala has recovered from the calf strain that kept her out of the first two WXV clashes, and replaces Roseline Botes at hooker, while Nxingolo swops roles with Sanelisiwe Charie, who started the first two games of the tournament. Mdliki comes in for Azisa Mkiva on the bench.

Mabenge's selection and the return of Tayla Kinsey at scrumhalf are the only changes in the backline.

De Bruin said the team's mission remains the same â- adding building blocks to their ultimate destination, the Rugby World Cup in England next year.

"We tweaked around a bit in order to look at more combinations and sadly had to call for replacements as well due to the three injuries," he said.

"That said, we still have good momentum going into this last game, an important one for us as it is another opportunity to beat a better-ranked team."

Of the inclusion of Mdliki, the coach said it is exciting to see the pathway in the women's game starting to deliver: "She was part of that junior squad who played against Zimbabwe in 2022 and trained with us for the last two months.

"That group already delivered Vainah Ubisi, Byrhandrè Dolf, Mary Zulu and Sinelitha Noxexe to the senior team. It bodes well for the future and I am sure Nombuyekezo will show why the coaches have so much faith in her."

Springbok Women's team - 15 Eloise Webb, 14 Nomawethu Mabenge, 13 Zintle Mpupha, 12 Chumisa Qawe, 11 Ayanda Malinga, 10 Nadine Roos, 9 Tayla Kinsey (vice-captain), 8 Sizophila Solontsi, 7 Catha Jacobs, 6 Lusanda Dumke, 5 Vainah Ubisi, 4 Nolusindiso Booi (captain), 3 Babalwa Latsha, 2 Lindelwa Gwala, 1 Yonela Ngxingolo.

Replacements: 16 Micke Gunter, 17 Sanelisiwe Charlie, 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19 Danelle Lochner, 20 Sinazo Mcatshulwa, 21 Aseza Hele, 22 Unam Tose, 23 Byrhandre Dolf.

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