She was also named captain for the 25th time, another team record. Utility back Nadine Roos will start at fullback and Unam Tose at scrumhalf for the Springboks in York.  

Chumisa Qawe and Eloise Webb will make their first appearances at the Women’s Rugby World. Roos, who scored South Africa’s first try in their opening fixture against Brazil, played at scrumhalf in that match, but Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin has decided to tweak the backline for this crucial match. Tose slotting in behind the scrum and Byrhandré Dolf, who started at fullback, moving to right wing in the place of Maceala Samboya.

Qawe will start at inside centre in place of Aphiwe Ngwevu, who moves to the bench, where she will be joined by Border Ladies teammate Webb, who replaces Jakkie Cilliers amongst the replacements.

‘Tweaking their approach’

The same pack that dominated Brazil will start against Italy, and the same group of forwards that came off the bench in Northampton will do so again.

De Bruin said the tweaks were made specifically with their opponents in mind. “We have looked at the way they play and decided on this squad for this important match.”  

They are not moving away from their traditional strengths, just tweaking their approach against the eighth-ranked team in the world.

“We played as recently as last year’s WXV 2 in Cape Town, and that day we just came up short, mainly due to our inability to combat their kicking game, hence the tactical tweaks. Our pack will still go out to do physical damage, and as they showed against Brazil, we are effective in set-piece play.”

A win will take the South Africans into the top ten on the world rankings for the first time.

Springbok Women’s team to face Italy in York:

15 Nadine Roos – 19 caps, 40 points (six tries, five conversions)
14 Byrhandré Dolf – 23 caps, 53 points (seven tries, nine conversions)
13 Zintle Mpupha – 27 caps, 106 points (20 tries, three conversions)
12 Chumisa Qawe – 22 caps, 20 points (four tries)
11 Ayanda Malinga – 15 caps, 75 points (15 tries)
10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg – 28 caps, 219 points (14 tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalty goals, one drop goal) 

9 Unam Tose – 28 caps, 12 points (two tries, one conversion)

8 Aseza Hele – 29 caps, 80 points (16 tries)
7 Sinazo Mcatshulwa – 39 caps, 55 points (eleven tries)
6 Sizophila Solontsi – 29 caps, 45 points (nine tries)
5 Danelle Lochner – 20 caps, 10 points (two tries)
4 Nolusindiso Booi (captain) – 53 caps, five points (one try)
3 Babalwa Latsha (vice-captain) – 37 caps, 30 points (six tries)
2 Lindelwa Gwala – 36 caps, 75 points (15 tries)
1 Sanelisiwe Charlie – 27 caps, 10 points (two tries)

Replacements:

16 Micke Gunter – 14 caps, five points (one try)
17 Yonela Ngxingolo – 36 caps, 15 points (three tries)
18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki – six caps, no points
19 Vainah Ubisi – 19 caps, 15 points (three tries)
20 Lerato Makua – 16 caps, 20 points (four tries)
21 Catha Jacobs – 23 caps, five points (one try)
22 Eloise Webb – 17 caps, 30 points (six tries)
23 Aphiwe Ngwevu – 28 caps, 65 points (13 tries)

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg