Женская сборная Springbok потерпела поражение от сборной Уэльса в первом матче WXV

Maria Tshiremba, who scored an impressive hat-trick in her debut match for the women's Springboks against Fiji XV in Lautoka, will have another chance to shine in the upcoming match against Wales on Friday.

The debut hat-trick scorer, Maria Tshiremba, will play against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park stadium on Friday. She has been included in the updated Springboks women's squad for the opening of the WXV Global Series, where she will take a wing position.

Tshiremba, a star of the Springboks sevens tournament, has established herself on the international fifteens stage after a stunning performance with three touchdowns against Fiji. She now receives a starting spot in the revised backline. Her squad is supplemented by late addition Felicia Jacobs at scrum-half—returning to the field where she debuted in the 2019 Test—as well as Macela Samboya, who will move to outside centre to replace injured Zintle Mpofu, playing alongside Afife Ngvevu.

In the front row, Logan Welman swaps places with veteran Asesa Hele, who moves to the bench. This is the only adjustment to the squad that previously scored four touchdowns against the Black Ferns in Soweto.

The WXV series kicks off this weekend for team #bokwomen, and this is match day 23. Co-coach Franzel September stated that the team is on track for the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup, not only in terms of planning but also in providing players with experience at the highest level. He emphasized the importance of this opening weekend in setting the tone for the remaining matches.

September anticipates a tense battle in the breakdown against the Welsh team, whom South Africa has been unable to beat since 2010. To counter this, the Springboks have prepared a 6-2 'Blomb Squad' bench, including utility forward Sinelita Noxeke, as well as backline reserves Jackie Killers and Patience Mokone.

The Springboks women's squad for the WXV Global Series match includes: 15 Bayandre Dol, 14 Maria Tshiremba, 13 Macela Samboya, 12 Afife Ngvevu, 11 Ayanda Malinga, 10 Libby Yanse van Rensburg, 9 Felicia Jacobs, 8 Logan Welman, 7 Kathia Jacobs, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Danelle Lochner, 4 Wynah Ubisi, 3 Babalwa Latsha, 2 Lindelva Gwala, 1 Sanelise Charlie. Reserves: 16 Mike Gunther, 17 Xoliswa Huzwayo, 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19 Nomsa Mokway, 20 Asesa Hele, 21 Sinelita Noxeke, 22 Jackie Killers, 23 Patience Mokone.

The Springbok Women team is preparing for an intense confrontation in the battle for forward dominance during the first match of the WXV Global Series against Wales, which will take place on Friday at the Cardiff Arms Park stadium.

Despite the long flight via Dubai and typical Welsh drizzle, the fighting spirit of the Springbok Women remained high during preparations for the game. This match is of great importance to South Africa, as the team aims to secure its first victory over Wales since 2010. Having only two wins in six test matches against Wales, the South Africans enter the game on foreign soil with the goal of proving their worth.

In addition to overcoming a 16-year drought against the host team, which ranks three positions below South Africa in the world rankings, this match marks an important milestone for midfielder Felicia Jacobs. She has returned to the position where she first wore the green and gold jersey, having debuted against Wales in Cardiff in 2019. Jacobs was included in the squad as a late replacement when star defensive player Anakadia Minnar could not travel from Cape Town.

Minnar's injury was the second blow to the Bok Women's defensive line after centre Zintle Mpufa had to be replaced by rising star Naimo Hlatshwayo. Assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt commented on the situation, noting: 'Felicia was part of the squad all season, so we didn't expect anything less. It's a shame that Anakadia couldn't go, but it gives Felicia an opportunity to gain more experience on the international stage, and we are happy about her participation.'

Despite the constant wind and rain at Cardiff Metropolitan University, the team began intensive match simulation training aimed at increasing tactical sharpness. Johannes-Haupt added that although the women were a bit tired after the journey, they are in excellent spirits again. He emphasized that participating in the WXV Global Series was driven by the opportunity to regularly play against the world's best teams.

The former Bok prop, who led the team alongside Fransie September after the departure of head coach Swais de Bruyn, anticipates a physically demanding clash in Cardiff. She noted that Wales is a team dominant in the forwards, just like them, which will make the match interesting. She also stated that it is important for them to assess their condition, as they consider their set-piece very dominant, and now they will be able to study this in more detail on Friday.

The South Africans enter the WXV at the start of a strong 2026 season, demonstrating impressive form despite a recent heavy loss to the Black Ferns 52-20 in Soweto. The Springbok Women intentionally tested themselves against world-class teams this year and achieved six wins in eight matches, including an undefeated run that brought them the African Women's Rugby Cup, as well as a draw in the home series with the USA and a successful tour of Fiji. Although the physical confrontation with New Zealand was a serious test, the Bok Women demonstrated the ability to push top-level teams to their limits, which gave them immense confidence before stepping onto the WXV arena. After Friday's match, the team will play away games against Italy and Spain.

The Springboks secured a convincing victory over the All Blacks with a score of 43–28 in the final match of the greatest rugby rivalry series, held in Baltimore. This win allowed South Africa to claim a historic 3–1 series victory.

The second half of the match proved decisive, as the Springboks managed to pull away from the New Zealand team in Maryland state. The victory was ensured by dominance in the forwards and precise execution of attacks in the backline.

The game took place at M&T Bank Stadium in front of an enthusiastic crowd. The South African team overcame the resistance of the competitive New Zealand squad by utilizing a destructive combination of forward power and backline skill. This triumph concluded an unforgettable multi-match tour in the United States.

The Greatest Rugby Rivalry

The Springboks demonstrated both power and style to defeat the All Blacks in the final match of the series. This secured them a historic 3–1 victory, allowing head coach Rassie Erasmus to mark his significant one hundred and first Test match in the series.

More to Come...