Interim coach Louis Koen named three uncapped players – Mary Zulu, Shaunique Hess and Danelle Lochner – in the starting team while Byrhandré Dolf is on the bench for the season opener in Madrid.
Springbok Women’s captain Nolusindiso Booi. Picture: @WomenBoks/Twitter.
The Springbok Women have named 4 debutants in their match day squad for Saturday’s Test match against Canada.
Interim coach Louis Koen named three uncapped players – Mary Zulu, Shaunique Hess and Danelle Lochner – in the starting team while Byrhandré Dolf is on the bench for the season opener in Madrid.
This encounter marks the beginning of a new Rugby World Cup cycle as the squad begins to build for the global tournament which will be held in be held in England in 2025.
Koen has opted for an experienced core of the group, with Nolusindiso Booi continuing as the team captain while key players Nomawethu Mabenge, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Tayla Kinsey, Aseza Hele, Catha Jacobs and Babalwa Latsha are all in the starting line up as 19 members of the 23 were part of last year’s Rugby World Cup squad in New Zealand.
Amongst the newcomers, Zulu, played for the Junior Springbok Women last year and the Sharks Women in SA Rugby’s Women’s Premier Division for the last two seasons, while 24-year-old Hess played Boland Dames since her matric year, before joining Western Province in 2023.
Lochner will become a dual international when she makes her Test debut having previously represented the Proteas netball team as a goal shooter between 2016 and 2019. Dolf trained with the Springbok Women last year already and captained the Junior Springbok Women in their international against Zimbabwe last year.
Koen indicated that all four new players will have a specific role to play.
“Mary has a good rugby brain and kicks well, so I am excited to see how she goes against a quality Canadian side. Shaunique has a very good skill set. She was on the radar for a while now and I am very excited to see her in action. She can play anywhere in the back three, but I believe she will be a huge factor in the midfield,” Koen said
Koen added that the lack of rugby experience would not necessarily count against Lochner as she would be used to the demands of international sport.
“Her learning curve is incredible, and she has impressed everyone since joining. She is a proper athlete, and I am sure will make a big impact,” said Koen
The match kicks off at 16:00 on Saturday.
The Springbok Women team to face Canada in Madrid:
- Mary Zulu
- Nomawethu Mabenge
- Shaunique Hess
- Aphiwe Ngwevu
- Jakkie Cilliers
- Libbie Janse van Rensburg
- Tayla Kinsey
- Aseza Hele
- Catha Jacobs
- Lusanda Dumke
- Danelle Lochner
- Nolusindiso Booi (captain)
- Babalwa Latsha
- Lindelwa Gwala
- Sanelisiwe Charlie
Replacements:
- Roseline Botes
- Yonela Ngxingolo
- Azisa Mkiva
- Sinazo Mcatshulwa
- Nompumelelo Mathe
- Unam Tose –
- Chumisa Qawe
- Byrhandré Dolf
