Babalwa Latsha to captain Springbok Women for historic Black Ferns Test

The match will serve as a curtain raiser to the Springboks v All Blacks clash at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, with kick-off set for 13h30.

The fixture comes in the wake of the sudden resignation of Bok Women head coach Swys de Bruin earlier this week, which has been confirmed by SA Rugby, with Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September set to continue as co-head coaches for the time being.

Captain Babalwa Latsha is one of six players in the pack who started against the Black Ferns in last year's World Cup quarter-final, which New Zealand won 46-17. Vainah Ubisi and Catha Jacobs, who were replacements in that match, now start, replacing the retired Nolusindiso Booi and injured Sinazo Mcatshulwa.

Five backs also retain their starting places, while Unam Tose replaces the injured Nadine Roos at scrumhalf. Alichia Arries starts on the wing, with Anacadia Minnaar and Maceala Samboya among the replacements. Tose, Arries and Minnaar will make their first appearances against the Black Ferns.

Johannes-Haupt said the coaching staff had some good options when they named the final group and expressed her confidence in the squad selected for this historic match.

"We have managed to build some extra depth since that match earlier this season when we played in the Rugby Africa Women's Cup and the two series against the USA Eagles Women and Fijiana.

"We believe this is the right squad for this game, and we go to FNB Stadium with a very specific game plan in mind.

"We have certain characteristics as Springbok Women and that include being very physical in our first phase, so there is no reason to move away from that."

Johannes-Haupt, who played against the Black Ferns in the 2010 Women's World Cup, acknowledged the historic nature of the fixture.

"This is a big moment for us as a team, but we will make sure the focus remains between the four lines, where the Blacks Ferns will no doubt come with a massive onslaught."

Springbok Women - 15 Byrhandre Dolf, 14 Alichia Arries, 13 Zintle Mpupha, 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 11 Ayanda Malinga, 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Unam Tose, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Catha Jacobs, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Danelle Lochner, 4 Vainah Ubisi, 3 Babalwa Latsha (captain), 2 Lindelwa Gwala, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie.

Replacements: 16 Anushka Groenewald, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19 Nomsa Mokwai, 20 Shiniqwa Lamprecht, 21 Logan Welman, 22 Anacadia Minnaar, 23 Maceala Samboya.

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