Springbok Women Name 2 New Test Captains and Bomb Squad for Italy WXV Clash
- The Springbok Women have made sweeping changes to their line-up, with several familiar faces taking on different roles against Italy
- South Africa have unveiled a new leadership combination for the Italy clash, while some of their biggest names will begin the match on the bench
- The latest Springbok Women selection includes returning stars, positional switches and a powerful group of replacements waiting to make an impact
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: Twitter
The Springbok Women have named two first-time Test captains and a heavily rotated starting XV for their second WXV Global Series fixture against Italy on Saturday, 26 September, at the Stadio Omero Tognon in Pordenone.
Scrumhalf Unam Tose and loose forward Sizophila Solontsi will share the armband, with both players leading the side in a Test match for the first time. Solontsi has previously captained the Springbok Women's Sevens team, but this will mark a new chapter for both players at the senior Test level.
Regular captain Babalwa Latsha is among six players who started against Wales and have been moved to the bench, giving the replacements a distinct "Bomb Squad" character heading into the Italian encounter.
Backs and pack overhauled after Cardiff defeat
SA Women's Rugby reported that only three backs who started in Wales have retained their places. Maceala Samboya continues at outside centre, Maria Tshiremba moves from right to left wing, and Byrhandré Dolf moves infield from fullback to flyhalf.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Alichia Arries and Lerato Makua, both absent from the Wales Test through injury, return to the starting line-up. Jakkie Cilliers is promoted from the bench to fullback, and Shiniqwa Lamprecht comes in at inside centre.
The forward pack has been entirely reshaped. Yonela Ngxingolo, who earns her 48th cap and holds the distinction of being the second-most-capped Springbok Women's player ever, starts at loosehead prop alongside hooker Anushka Groenewald and tighthead Nombuyekezo Mdliki.
Lock Danelle Lochner's red card from the Wales match was rescinded at a disciplinary hearing, but the outcome still influenced selection, with Catha Jacobs shifting from flanker to the second row to partner Vainah Ubisi. Makua starts at blindside flanker and Aseza Hele returns at No 8, with Logan Welman dropping to the bench.
September points to 2028 World Cup vision
Franzel September said the reshuffle should not be viewed as a reaction to individual performances. Instead, he described it as part of the Springbok Women’s longer-term plan to test combinations, restore injured players and give more members of the squad Test exposure ahead of the 2028 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
“We were stung in Cardiff, but no player has been dropped as such for this match against Italy,” September said.
He also pointed to the previous meeting between the sides as a source of confidence, while stressing that Saturday’s encounter presents a fresh challenge.
“Last year’s win against them was a wonderful injection to our programme and the self-belief of the squad, but this is a new challenge, and we start afresh for this one,” he said.
The Springbok Women will retain their emphasis on set-piece play, although the changes in personnel are expected to bring adjustments to their attacking patterns and kicking approach.
The match at Stadio Omero Tognon kicks off at 14:30 local time (13:30 GMT) on Saturday, 26 September, with Holly Wood of the RFU appointed as referee.
Springbok Women team to face Italy
Starting XV
- Yonela Ngxingolo
- Anushka Groenewald
- Nombuyekezo Mdliki
- Vainah Ubisi
- Catha Jacobs
- Sizophila Solontsi (co-captain)
- Lerato Makua
- Aseza Hele
- Unam Tose (co-captain)
- Byrhandré Dolf
- Maria Tshiremba
- Shiniqwa Lamprecht
- Maceala Samboya
- Alichia Arries
- Jakkie Cilliers
Replacements
- Micke Gunter
- Sanelisiwe Charlie
- Babalwa Latsha
- Nomsa Mokwai
- Logan Welman
- Aphiwe Ngwevu
- Felicia Jacobs
- Libbie Janse van Rensburg
Springbok Women’s Wales changes set the stage for Italy reshuffle
Briefly News previously reported that the Springbok Women had already made several changes to their starting XV for their opening WXV Global Series clash against Wales on 18 September 2026. Maria Tshiremba, Felicia Jacobs and Logan Welman were among those handed starting roles as the coaching staff continued testing combinations.
The latest Italy selection takes that rotation strategy a step further, with another significant reshuffle and a fresh leadership combination now in place.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
