Babalwa Latsha will captain the Springbok Women against the USA Eagles Women at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The 32-year-old tighthead prop has led the team on 15 occasions before, but following the retirement of long-standing captain Nolusindiso Booi at the end of last season, coach Swys de Bruin has confirmed that Latsha will take the reins going forward.
“Babalwa is a natural leader and one of the best in the world in her position, which made it an easy decision,” said De Bruin. “She has a lot of captaincy experience and often stood in for Nolusindiso in the past, and she did very well.”
De Bruin named a very settled side, with only two players in the starting team – Alichia Arries and Logan Welman – who did not feature at last year’s Women’s World Cup.
Arries, who made her Test debut in 2021, excelled at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and was a standout player in the Women’s Super League for Western Province. She was also a regular for the Springbok Women’s Sevens in 2024.
Welman, who represented the Junior Springbok Women in 2024, made her senior Test debut in Kenya in May, scoring three tries in as many Tests as the Bok Women successfully defended their continental title, and she looks set for a long career in international rugby.
In a slight tweak to his backline, De Bruin has opted to move Jakkie Cilliers to right wing, with Ayanda Malinga starting at outside centre.
De Bruin also included Thandile Mazwi, who made her Test debut at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup this season, as a replacement prop on the bench, where he again opted for a split of six forwards and two backs.
“That split has worked well for us last year and we have the players to continue with that plan,” he said.
The match kicks off at 1:30pm and will be broadcast on SuperSport.
SPRINGBOK WOMEN – 15 Byrhandré Dolf, 14 Jakkie Cilliers, 13 Ayanda Malinga, 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 11 Alichia Arries, 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Unam Tose, 8 Logan Welman, 7 Catha Jacobs, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Danelle Lochner, 4 Vainah Ubisi, 3 Babalwa Latsha (c), 2 Micke Gunter, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie.
Bench: 16 Anushka Groenewald, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Thandile Mazwi, 19 Anathi Qolo, 20 Sinelitha Noxeke, 21 Faith Tshauke, 22 Felicia Jacobs, 23 Eloise Webb.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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Babalwa Latsha will captain the Springbok Women against the USA Eagles Women at Ellis Park on Saturday.
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