Zintle Mpupha and Micke Gunter return as Bok Women face Canada

Zintle Mpupha and Micke Gunter will make starting returns to the Springbok Women team to face Canada at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, with both facing the North Americans for the first time as well.

Both last played for South Africa against Italy in WXV 2 in Cape Town - Mpupha last year, while Gunter's last appearance in the No. 2 jersey was in 2023, in the inaugural tournament.

The duo missed the four Tests the Springbok Women played this year, Mpupha due to her commitments with the Springbok Women's Sevens team and Gunter due to injury.

Mpupha, the team's leading try scorer in Test matches, is one of several players who will have an opportunity to extend team records in the first clash between the two countries on South African soil.

Springbok Women performance coach Swys de Bruin, named the most capped player in their history, Nolusindiso Booi, to lead the Bok Women again in what will be her 51st test match.

Booi will also become the most experienced captain ever, leading the team onto the field for her 22nd time, having shared the record of 21 matches as captain with Mandisa Williams, who will be the team's flag bearer on Saturday.

Tayla Kinsey will extend her record as most experienced scrumhalf to 40 Tests; Babalwa Latsha will extend her tally as most experienced prop to 35 Tests and Sinazo Mcatshulwa will earn her 37th cap as a loose forward.

Eight players in the starting lineup also ran out as starters the last time South Africa faced Canada, when the team from North America won 66-7 on 23 March 2023 in Madrid, Spain.

They are Kinsey, Latsha, Booi, Jakkie Cilliers, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Aseza Hele, Danelle Lochner and Sanelisiwe Charlie.

Mcatshulwa and Chumisa Qawe (centre) played off the bench in Madrid but will start in Pretoria this weekend. Catha Jacobs, Yonela Ngxingolo and Byrhandré Dolf will get their second opportunity against Canada off the bench.

De Bruin said this will be his team's most challenging match in a while.

"Canada are not only ranked second in the world, but they are also full of confidence after an undefeated run in the recent Pacific Four tournament," said De Bruin.

"We need matches like these though as we get our final plans in place ahead of the Rugby World Cup that starts next month. It is all good to train well and we did so over a number of months, but now we need to test our systems and plans against Canada, who are one of the favourites to win the World Cup."

The Bok Women coach said the experience in his own side will stand them in good stead: "We have a lot of players that are the most experienced in their positions and 17 of the match day squad played at the previous Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

"So, they will be aware of the pressure Canada put on their opponents and how well they have played in recent seasons. We are looking inward though for this match and our focus will be to execute our way of play.

"We will be physical and direct and I want to think that the altitude and the support from the Loftus crowd will be added benefits. But we will also look at expanding our options on attack, while on defence, it will all be about pressure and forcing them into making mistakes.

"I am looking forward to this match as it will be a good indicator on where we are on our own road to the Rugby World Cup."

Springbok Women - 15 Nadine Roos, 14 Jakkie Cilliers, 13 Zintle Mpupha, 12 Chumisa Qawe, 11 Ayanda Malinga, 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Tayla Kinsey, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Sinazo Mcatshulwa, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Danelle Lochner, 4 Nolusindiso Booi (c), 3 Babalwa Latsha, 2 Micke Gunter, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie.

Replacements: 16 Luchell Hanekom, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19 Nomsa Mokwai, 20 Lerato Makua, 21 Catha Jacobs, 22 Byrhandré Dolf, 23 Eloise Webb. 

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