Six uncapped players set for Springbok Women debuts against Madagascar

Assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt said the squad is taking nothing for granted ahead of their opening Test of the year, which also marks the beginning of a demanding 12-Test international schedule for 2026.

"It is such an exciting time for the Springbok Women and our women's game, and we want to make the best of these opportunities," she said.

"The three Tests in the Africa Cup allow us to introduce new players to the rigours of Test rugby, while also rewarding those who excelled in our pathways back home, like the Pick n Pay Women's Super League."

The squad named for the opening match will introduce six new players to the demands of Test rugby, with Western Province No 8 Logan Welman the only uncapped player in the starting team.

Prop Thandile Mazwi and flanker Ntsako Mbombi will be called upon to boost the pack during the contest, while at the back, Insaaf Levy, Naima Hlatshwayo and Thami Yeko are also expected to earn a first Test cap.

"It is great to see how many players have come through the Youth Training Centres, the national age group weeks and our Under-20s are now making the step-up into the senior ranks," said Johannes-Haupt.

"Those who excelled in the Super League were also rewarded with call-ups and I expect strong performances from them."

Johannes-Haupt and fellow assistant coach Franzel September fine-tuned their preparations for this season with two main goals: to continue with the established Springbok Women blueprint of a very strong first-phase foundation, and to give the backline players an opportunity to express themselves from this platform.

"We did prepare for Madagascar in particular, but we also want our identity as a team to be moulded, as this is only the first of many big games we will play this year," she said.

"Madagascar traditionally love moving the ball around and play side to side in a fast offload game, whereas we will be looking to play at our pace and use our set piece to dominate. That said, we want our backs to play as well, there are many exciting players that can do wonders with ball in hand."

Incredible return for Minnaar

One of those, scrumhalf Anacadia Minnaar, will make a remarkable return to Test rugby, seven years after her debut against Scotland in Cape Town in 2019.

Back then, Minnaar played two Tests at flyhalf at age 19 and looked set for a long spell in international rugby. She returned post-COVID to play for the Springbok Women's Sevens squad in the HSBC SVNS Series in 2022, the Rugby Africa Women's Sevens Cup, and the 2022 Commonwealth Games in England, but a serious facial injury in England ruled her out of the game for months.

During that time, she also gave birth to her son, before returning to the game in 2024, first in club rugby for the Colesburg Queens and then in the erstwhile Women's Premier Division for the Free State Women.

In 2025, the Middelburg resident returned to her roots, representing the EP Queens, now as a scrumhalf, and earlier this year, she excelled in the 2026 Pick n Pay Women's Super League, prompting a national call-up.

"This is huge for me to be back, it has been seven long years with a lot if things happening in between," Minnaar said with a huge smile.

"It would not have been possible without the support of my family, who kept encouraging me when I was down and this Test match will also be for them.

"I am equally at ease playing scrumhalf or flyhalf and I slotted in well with the rest of the squad since my call-up a couple of months back. For now, the focus will be to contribute to the team effort and what we worked on in training," she added.

Springbok Women - 15 Chuma Qawe, 14 Nomawethu Mabenge, 13 Jakkie Cilliers, 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 11 Alichia Arries, 10 Mary Zulu, 9 Anacadia Minnaar, 8 Logan Welman, 7 Sinelitha Noxeke, 6 Faith Tshauke, 5 Anathi Qolo (captain), 4 Nomsa Mokwai, 3 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 2 Anushka Groenewald, 1 Xoliswa Khuzwayo.

Replacements: 16 Roseline Botes, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Thandile Mazwi, 19 Nobuhle Mjwara, 20 Ntsako Mbombi, 21 Insaaf Levy, 22 Naima Hlatshwayo, 23 Thami Yeko.

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