The two teams last clashed in 2023, with Bok women securing an easy 87- 0 win against Cameroon to claim the African Cup title at the same venue.

Koen announced his 23 women squad ahead of this all-important encounter on Thursday, confirming eight changes from the squad that played against USA in March. He says it will be important for the team to stick to what they know ahead of this weekend’s clash against the Indomitable Lionesses.

"I think just first of all to play our brand of rugby, we are here to compete and we are here to do a good job. We've prepared very well for this Africa Cup so we're looking forward to playing a good brand of rugby this weekend that suits us as South Africans," Koen said.

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The 48-year-old mentor shared with SABC Sport that it will be crucial to maintain a consistent performance as they resume with their tight schedule - that will see them contest three matches in 12 days. He says the main goal is to win all three back-to-back fixtures to qualify for the Women’s Rugby World Cup scheduled to take place in England between 22 August and 27 September 2025. It will be the second women's Rugby Union World Cup to be hosted in England, since the 2010 edition.

"First of all, it's nice being defending champions but it doesn't count now. We are yet to qualify for World Cup 2025 and that's our goal and our mission, that's why we're here. So, it's not about defending like I said so we're looking forward to competing in the 2025 World Cup but we need to get through this Africa Cup as winners. So, three games ahead of us and we need to win all three of those and we look forward to doing that."

KWAGGA-SMITH

Smith relishing the "ultimate test" of playing the All Blacks

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