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.
The Springbok Women showed good progress over the last five weeks, learned valuable lessons on their way and will enter next month's WXV 2 tournament well prepared and as ready as can be.
It will be a reunion of sorts for Catha Jacobs at Athlone Stadium on Saturday when the Springbok Women No 8 lines up for her country against the Barbarians in what she believes will be a highly entertaining match to watch.
The Springbok Women will be looking for a few important outcomes when they face Kenya at the University of the Western Cape Rugby Club on Saturday and for the team’s captain on the day, Babalwa Latsha, a number of building blocks will have to put in place for both teams in the clash.
Springbok Women interim head coach Louis Koen handed Unathi Mali a first start for the national team at wing and recalled outside backs Veroeshka Grain and Piwokuhle Nyanda to the side to face Kenya at UWC Rugby Club in Cape Town on Saturday.