Springbok Women 7s Pool B fixtures (SA times, all matches live on SuperSport):
Friday 29 May
10h22: USA
14h29: Australia
Saturday 30 May
10h00: Fiji
Blitzboks Pool A fixtures (SA times, all matches live on SuperSport):
Friday 29 May
12h34: Great Britain
17h08: Kenya
Saturday, 29 May
13h23: Australia
Great idea hosting it at schools rather than at City Park (as originally planned). However, changing the last round from the Sunday to the Saturday is a bit dof as there is a direct clash with the URC quarter-finals. Luckily it will be up on BokTube, so easy enough to watch later.
A very exciting mix of experience (9 players from the WC 2025), some returning from the fringe (8 previously capped players) and youth (9 uncapped players, 4 of whom just played some excellent rugby in the u20 Women's Week).
As with last year's Africa Cup, Swys will stay in Stellenbosch with a core group to work on S&C, while Laurian and Franzel take the reins in Kenya. And of course the 7s Women are not available due to the last 2 World Championship tournaments at the end of May and beginning of June.
With the 2 USA tests and Black Ferns game coming up and a bumper fixture list for the rest of the year we are certainly going to need all the depth we can get. Can't wait for this season to get started!
Springbok Women squad:
Props:
Yonela Ngxingolo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 39 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 9 caps, 0 points
Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 9 caps, 0 points
Thandile Mazwi (DHL Western Province) – uncapped
Sanelisiwe Charlie (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 29 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Anuschka Ekron (DHL Western Province) – 3 caps, 0 points
Hookers:
Roseline Botes (DHL Western Province) – 24 caps, 8 tries (40 points)
Anushka Groenewald (DHL Western Province) – 3 caps, 0 points
Locks:
Abigail Smit (DHL Western Province) – uncapped
Nomsa Mokwai (DHL Western Province) – 13 caps, 0 points
Anathi Qolo (captain, Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 11 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Zethu Gcaza (Border Ladies) – uncapped****
Loose forwards:
Nobuhle Mjwara (Sharks Women) – 3 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Faith Tshauke (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 4 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Sinelitha Noxeke (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 2 caps, 0 points
Ntsako Mbombi (Golden Lions Women) – uncapped
Logan Welman (DHL Western Province) – uncapped
Scrumhalves:
Insaaf Levy (DHL Western Province) – uncapped
Anacadia Minnaar (EP Queens) – 3 caps, 3 points (1 penalty goal)
Flyhalves:
Mary Zulu (Sharks Women) – 15 caps, 40 points (20 conversions)
Thami Yeko (EP Queens) – uncapped
Inside backs:
Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 30 caps, 70 points (14 tries)
Jakkie Cilliers (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 21 caps, 103 points (9 tries, 23 conversions, 4 penalty goals)
Naima Hlatshwayo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – uncapped
Outside backs:
Nomawethu Mabenge (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 21 caps, 80 points (16 tries)
Alichia Arries (DHL Western Province) – 2 caps, 0 points
Shaunique Alexander (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – uncapped
Chuma Qawe (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 14 caps, 2 points (1 conversion)
The Order of Ikhamanga recognises South African citizens who have excelled in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.
The Order will be bestowed in Gold on:
MR JOHAN RASSIE ERASMUS: For his inspirational leadership in national and international rugby that has propelled the Springboks to repeated Rugby World Cup Championships. Victory on the field of play has advanced social cohesion among South Africans and raised the nation’s esteem in the international community.
All the other teams in contention for the top 4 have relatively easy games (Pumas v Griffons, Boland v EP, SWD v Leopards, and even Valke, still in it with a slim chance, face Border).
Cheetahs have to win and keep their CC place, or draw and hope for the best, or lose and Faf will be playing CC First Devision.
I think this is a great initiative from the Stormers. Questions won't be live (people can submit them via a Google form ahead of time), but it should still be interesting and it's a great way to connect with fans.
Live stream on YT tomorrow: https://www.youtube.com/live/-WRrQxnAFis?si=4juh0zKxwQ7H95VY
Genuinely worried about the Cheetahs. Despite the recent developments with the Toyota Challenge, they are in danger of being relegated to CC First Division. From what Frans has said, this might have dire implications for the union's future. They will want to stretch their points difference this week, but it will all come down to next week's game against Griquas.
Of course SWD have a very small chance of getting the W this week, but their trajectory has been so magnificent, they can not be discounted.
Boland and Pumas recent history has been very close, but if Boland want to chart their own destiny, this is a must win.
Who do you think will make it to the top 4? But also: what is happening in Bloemfontein for the Cheetahs to have ended up in this position and what should be done to fix it?
We'll need a good 80 minute performance against Australia, but I can't wait to see more from this team.
Abigail Smit captained her team to victory. WP have won all 4 editions of the SA u20 Women's Week. Expect to see many of these players in the u20 Springboks this year.
In case you missed it, most of the games from this week are up on Springbok YT.
Markus Muller, Cheswill Jooste and Zekhethelo Siyaya unavailable due to URC duties.
Luan Giliomee and Siphosethu Mnebelele unavailable due to injury.
In more news: The Junior Boks will be playing in Cape Town (City Park) at the end of May as a prelude to the Junior World Championship. Georgia, Fiji, and Chile will join them in a 3 match day series.
Thursday, 21 May:
Georgia vs Fiji
South Africa vs Chile
Tuesday, 26 May:
Chile vs Georgia
South Africa vs Fiji
Sunday, 31 May:
Fiji vs Chile
South Africa vs Georgia
"The first leg of the competition – in which the three South African teams will face the three visiting sides – is scheduled for Bloemfontein on 5, 10 and 14 June at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein. The second leg will play out in Tbilisi in Georgia in October."
Good on the Cheetahs for their initiative. Who needs Super Rugby when you have some Vrystaters making a plan? The only way this could be better is if SA teams could play their way in through SA or Currie Cup.