Springbok Women’s coach makes changes to team for Kenya

• Published date: 08 May 2024
• Publication title: Herald, The (Port Elizabeth, South Africa)

Free State Women outside back Sikholiwe Mdletshe will earn her first cap after being named on the left-wing, while regular starter Sinazo Mcatshulwa returns at flanker for SA’s second match of the tournament, after they outplayed Cameroon 55-0 in the opening match on Saturday

Koen selected a new midfield, where Jakkie Cilliers will link up with Aphiwe Ngwevu, a try-scorer off the bench against Cameroon. Tayla Kinsey, SA’s most capped scrumhalf, will swap places with Rumandi Potgieter after playing her 33rd Test match off the bench at the weekend.

Squad personnel Azisa Mkiva, Roseline Botes and Xoliswa Khuzwayo swap their opening match bench role for starting positions in the front row against Kenya.

Botes (hooker) swaps places with Lindelwa Gwala and Khuzwayo (prop) with Sanelisiwe Charlie. Mkiva replaced the injured Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen early in the Cameroon game, which means Amber Schonert, who made her Test debut at the same venue last year, will provide tight head cover against Kenya.

Vainah Ubisi and Nomsa Mokwai also swap jerseys, with Ubisi starting and Mokwai moving to the bench where she will be joined by Unathi Qolo, who will be keen to start her contribution to the Springbok Women’s quest to qualify for next year’s Rugby World Cup in England.

The Springbok Women’s last Test against Kenya was in September last year at the University of Western Cape Stadium in Bellville, where SA won by 77-12.

Only five players who started against Kenya in that Test are back and...