Four players on Springbok Women’s debut against Scotland

Chumisa Qawe, Anacadia Minnaar, Nomawethu Mabenge and Edwaline Dickson could make their Springbok Women’s debuts against Scotland at the City Park Stadium in Athlone on Monday after being named in coach Stanley Raubenheimer’s squad for the clash.

The match, which kicks off at 5pm, is the first of two Tests against Scotland and the third international for the team stretching over two weeks. The sides will meet again at the same venue on Saturday.

Raubenheimer’s starting team showed five changes to the side that took the field against Spain a little over a week ago, which will see Qawe join forces with Aphiwe Ngwevu in the midfield, young flankers Phelisa Mrwebi and Nompumelelo Mathe forming a new-look loose trio with hard-running No 8 Aseza Hele, Mabenge and Piwokuhle Nyanda being named as the wingers, and Minnaar forming a new halfback combination with the experienced Tayla Kinsey (scrumhalf).

Dickson, meanwhile, will provide loose-forward cover off the bench.

Qawe’s inclusion in the starting team means she could have the honour of being on the field at the same time as her twin sister, Chuma – who has been named among the replacements – in a fully-fledged international fixture for the first time.

Springbok Women’s team to face Scotland:
15 – Vuyolwethu Maqholo (Western Province)
14 – Nomawethu Mabenge (Eastern Province)
13 – Chumisa Qawe (Border)
12 – Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border)
11 – Piwokuhle Nyanda (Golden Lions)
10 – Anacadia Minnaar (Eastern Province)
9 – Tayla Kinsey (KZN)
8 – Aseza Hele (Eastern Province)
7 – Nompumelelo Mathe (KZN)
6 – Phelisa Mrwebi (Eastern Province)
5 – Karthy Dludla (KZN)
4 – Celeste Adonis (Boland)
3 – Babalwa Latsha (captain – Western Province)
2 – Lindelwa Gwala (KZN)
1 – Yonela Ngxingolo (Border)

Replacements:
16 – Annique Geswind (Western Province)
17 – Noxolo Mankayi (Eastern Province)
18 – Onaka Jita (Boland)
19 – Prelene Pegram (SWD)
20 – Edwaline Dickson (SWD)
21 – Unam Tose (Border)
22 – Sesethu Mtshazi (Western Province)
23 – Chuma Qawe (Border)

In partnership with ANA and Sports Leo