Babalwa Latsha will lead the Springbok Women in the first of two international friendlies against the Blacks Ferns XV on Saturday, with both matches to be played at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.
Springbok Women captain Nolusindiso Booi offers the Springbok Women the chance to showcase the growth of the team when they take on Canada at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as they move towards the Rugby World Cup in England next month.
The Springbok Women side to play Canada in Gqeberha on Saturday will have a distinct Eastern Cape flavour after Performance coach Swys de Bruin made several changes to his match-23 for the second Test against the North American side.
Growing up playing touch rugby with some boys in Pelican Street in Rosedale, Uitenhage taught Springbok Women fullback Byrhandrѐ Dolf how to step past bigger people, hence her dream to meet Cheslin Kolbe, who has perfected that art on the rugby field.
Springbok Women captain Nolusindiso Booi said her team will enter Loftus Versfeld with excitement and determination when they face Canada on Saturday, in the first Test between the two countries on South African soil.
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.
Having played against most of the Canadian team on a regular basis in England, Springbok Women utility forward Catha Jacobs is in a good position to act as soundboard on her team’s opponents for Saturday’s Test in Pretoria.
Very few women's players – if anyone – have studied the Loftus Versfeld uprights with more intent in recent years that Springbok Women and Bulls Daisies kicking ace, Jakkie Cilliers.
The Springbok Women will face one of their toughest assignments in recent years when they take on Canada next month, with a squad of 26 players named to assemble in Johannesburg on Sunday for the first Test.
There was relief but also pride that the Springbok Women executed their mandate in Madagascar at the 2025 Rugby Africa Women's Cup, returning home victorious after wins over Uganda, Kenya and Madagascar, resulting in another continental title and trophy for the South Africans.