The Springbok Women will face Samoa in their final WXV 2 match at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Friday without Tayla Kinsey, Luchell Hanekom and Aseza Hele.
Springbok Women coach Louis Koen applauded the fighting spirit shown by his players at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, although they were beaten by Italy in an epic match in the second round of WXV 2 on Friday.
Despite being a regular starter at scrumhalf and fairly injury free, it took Tayla Kinsey all of a decade to get to 30 Test caps for the Springbok Women, and on Friday, she and her teammates will face Italy for only the second time ever since South Africa started playing international rugby in 2004.
Nolusindiso Booi will make a record 39th Test appearance at lock, Byrhandrè Dolf will start at wing, Micke Gunter at hooker, and Catha Jacobs at flanker in four changes to the Springbok Women starting team to face Italy in the second round of WXV 2 at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Friday.
The Springbok Women are under no illusions about Italy and their abilities when they face the European side in their second WXV 2 clash at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Friday afternoon.
Springbok Women head coach Louis Koen praised his team's effort in a close opening match in WXV2 against Scotland in Stellenbosch on Friday afternoon and said the experience gained from the encounter will benefit them hugely.
The wait is over and all the planning and training towards WXV will finally become reality for the Springbok Women when they take on Scotland in the opening round of the exciting new global women’s competition at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Friday.
They have prepared as well as possible and apart from a few unfortunate injuries along the way, the Springbok Women will enter the inaugural WXV 2 with much anticipation and excitement, ready to use the opportunity to test themselves against some formidable competition.
The Springbok Women are keen to eliminate mistakes from their matches in recent weeks when they face Samoa in their final warm-up Test before the start of WXV in Hermanus on Saturday.
Nineteen players with Rugby World Cup experience have been included in the Springbok Women squad for WXV 2 named by interim head coach Louis Koen on Friday for the inaugural World Rugby showpiece tournament, to be played in the Western Cape next month.