Rise in World Ranking Motivates Springbok Women Ahead of Second Match Against Ireland

The Springbok Women team will face a serious challenge on Saturday by playing against Ireland, ranked fifth, in the first of two test matches. The goal of this confrontation is to strengthen the squad ahead of the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup.

Despite having already played 11 matches this season, including tough games against highly ranked teams from New Zealand and the USA, they will be meeting Ireland for the first time since the 2006 Rugby World Cup. The team is ready to accept the challenge of the WXV Global Series.

The match will take place at the Athlon stadium in Cape Town, scheduled to start at 15:00. The joint coaches of Bok Women, Franzel September and Lorian Johannes-Haupt, have formed a team capable of challenging their opponents.

This is another important step for the team in preparing for the encounter with a top-five nation representative. They previously performed well against the Black Ferns in Soweto in September but ultimately lost 52-20. The upcoming game will show the team how far they still need to advance, especially considering the desire to improve their current world ranking of 10th.

Bok Women have made significant progress since Lynn Cantwell joined the squad in 2021, a former international player for Ireland and then manager of the SA Rugby women's high-performance program. The governing body has also invested heavily in women's rugby, which has yielded great dividends.

After Cantwell's departure, former Springbok assistant coach Sueys de Bruyn took over the role of high-performance program coach. Since then, the women's program has been steadily growing.

Johannes-Haupt explains this progress by expanding the Bok Women's test match program, noting that challenges from teams ranked both above and below them have significantly helped the team improve. She stated: 'The more we play, the better we get. Before, we played a maximum of 8 test matches a year. Now we play 13 matches.'

She continued: 'We compete not only with teams ranked lower than us; now we are competing with higher-ranked teams. So this is where our game is developing. Playing consistently every week is a new dynamic for us. This has been the biggest thing for us.'

Johannes-Haupt emphasized that the absence of a match against Ireland for 20 years signifies a new challenge and a clean slate. 'This is our chance to rise up and show what our true world ranking is.'

Johannes-Haupt noted that this progress reflects the ongoing growth of women's rugby in South Africa, including the transition of young players into senior ranks and the strengthening of development structures. She also added that the team's cohesion and ability to compete at a higher level are encouraging signs on the path to maximum preparation for 2029.

She believes this journey demonstrates the evolution of the game and Springbok women's rugby. 'If you look at the photo of the 2006 team, you see players in uniforms too big for them. That is just one example of how far we have come, from those days to holding press conferences now.' Johannes-Haupt concluded that the growth is phenomenal, and it is wonderful to watch the journey of everyone who has gone through the ranks, leaving the form in the best condition for the next generation.

September said she knew the challenge in the next two weeks would be difficult, but the team prepared well over the last week. 'We prayed for this opportunity to play against higher-ranked or better teams, and now we have it here in Cape Town. There is no better place to play,' shared September.

She added that the week went very successfully. 'We discussed this as a coaching staff after our third training session, and we have many positive points and good things we can take from the training. The energy was really good, so we are looking forward to this confrontation. The energy in the camp was good. The non-playing team also provided us with good pictures this week, so we are happy.' September stressed that it was a collective effort of all 32 players this week, and they are satisfied with how things are going.

September clarified that the squad of 23 was selected with Ireland in mind, explaining that the team selection will change from week to week depending on the opponent and the analysis conducted by the coaching staff.

Veteran prop Yonela Ngxingolo of the Springbok Women could achieve a significant career milestone if she plays in the upcoming match against Ireland on Saturday at Athlone Stadium. This fixture is part of the first of two WXV Global Series Tests, scheduled for 3 pm kick-off in the Mother City.

The national coaching staff has implemented several adjustments to the squad that previously faced Spain. Ngxingolo, whose debut occurred in 2018, would become only the second player to reach 50 caps for the national team, following in the footsteps of the retired Nolusindiso Booi.

Due to injuries to regular captain and tighthead prop Babalwa Latsha, flanker Sizophila Solontsi will assume the captaincy for these two home Tests. Additionally, Xoliswa Khuzwayo will take the No 3 position in this particular contest, having played at loosehead against Spain.

The Boks team is set to compete against Ireland, which is currently ranked fifth globally, marking their first encounter since 2006. Co-head coach Franzel September anticipates a demanding challenge from the opposition.

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September stated that success will belong to the team that manages the less favorable moments during the game most effectively. He noted that despite only two forced changes due to tighthead injuries, he is pleased with the integration of the new props, who have been part of the system throughout the year.

He added that the team is enthusiastic about Ngxingolo's potential milestone. September praised her development within the team, mentioning that she has recently provided valuable contributions from the replacement bench. He expressed confidence in her ability to perform when selected, noting excitement for her and her family.

September further elaborated on the strategic importance of the substitutes in the match. South Africa has chosen a six-two split for the bench, though it can operate as a traditional five-three setup utilizing the hybrid Aphiwe Ngwevu, who can cover both flanker and inside centre roles.

This flexibility allows September and his coaches to reinforce either the forwards or the backs depending on when they decide to utilize the utility player. He highlighted Ngwevu's growth in this capacity, citing her appearances as a centre against Italy and as a loose forward against Spain. He emphasized that her physical attributes and defensive capabilities offer significant advantages from the bench, regardless of whether she plays in the backline or as a loose forward.

Состав Springbok Women

The starting lineup includes 15 Jakkie Cilliers, 14 Alichia Arries, 13 Maceala Samboya, 12 Shiniqwa Lamprecht, 11 Maria Tshiremba, 10 Byrhandré Dolf, 9 Unam Tose, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Lerato Makua, 6 Sizophila Solontsi (captain), 5 Catha Jacobs, 4 Vainah Ubisi, 3 Xoliswa Khuzwayo, 2 Anushka Groenewald, and 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie. The reserve players consist of 16 Lindelwa Gwala, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Thandile Mazwi, 19 Danelle Lochner, 20 Logan Welman, 21 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 22 Anacadia Minnaar, and 23 Mary Zulu.

The Springbok women's team plans to leverage its momentum, continuity, and flawless track record at their base in Cape Town during the final home series against Ireland at Athlone Stadium.

Following two victories over Italy and Spain in the European WXV campaign, joint coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September decided not to change their proven successful tactics.

Only two changes were made to the squad of 30 players assembled in Stellenbosch for the two matches at Athlone Stadium on Saturday, October 24th and 31st. Substitute player Anacadia Minnaar, who could not participate in the European tour at the last minute, replaced Felicia Jacobs, and Western Province player Insaaf Levy replaced injured Ayanda Malunga to recognize her outstanding performances for the SA 'A' team in Brazil.

According to Johannes-Haupt, supporting the core group that weathered the European difficulties is a deliberate strategy aimed at testing South Africa's progress against a team ranked fifth in the world.

Johannes-Haupt explained: 'We chose continuity because we have good momentum after the last two matches in the tour, so we decided to stick with the same group of players.' He added: 'Anacadia unfortunately couldn't go to Europe, but we are happy about her return, and we also want to bring Insaaf closer to the action and utilize her skills. Ireland isn't ranked fifth in the world for nothing—they will truly test us.'

Despite Ireland representing one of the most challenging tactical hurdles in the international calendar, the Springbok women's team possesses a significant psychological advantage—Athlone Stadium. This venue in Cape Town has turned into a formidable fortress for visiting teams.

It was on this arena that South Africa achieved one of its greatest recent home victories—defeating the Black Ferns XV 41-24 thanks to relentless scrummaging and tight defensive play. This landmark victory proved that when the Bok Women play in Athlone, traditional global rugby powers can be overcome.

Johannes-Haupt also noted: 'We are pleased with how the season has developed, and we want to finish it on a high note at home. Athlone Stadium has been a lucky hunting ground for us in recent years, and it is the perfect setting to conclude the season.'

The addition of invited training players Aisha Kamara and Anotando Katshwa to the camp to intensify preparation means that the Springbok women's team views the series against Ireland as the final, defining milestone of its evolution in 2026.