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Re-jigged Springbok Women 'so into this game'
By Matt Merritt
Springbok Women head coach Stanley Raubenheimer has decided to shake up his team for their game against England. The South Africans sit bottom of their group but are not mathematically out of the race, though they face a stiff test in the 28-game unbeaten Red Roses.
Six changes have been made from their team against Fiji last weekend and it would have been seven were it not for a late withdrawal from Simamkele Namba that has seen former Exeter Chiefs centre Zintle Mpupha drawing back into the starting fifteen. She’ll start alongside Chumisa Qawe who may find herself in the record books should her twin sister Chuma, who will wear the 23 shirt, join her on the field as they would be the first pair of twins to represent South Africa at a World Cup.
The Qawe twins will be making their World Cup debuts, as will front row substitutes Micke Gunter, Yonela Ngxingolo and Azisa Mkiva, as well as lock Nompumelelo Mathe and scrum half Rumandi Potgieter.
Speaking ahead of the game, captain Nolusindiso Booi highlighted the importance of giving new players their shot. "It’s a very exciting squad because they include young players that haven’t played so far, and we can see their energy during the sessions this week,”
“They are extremely excited and knowing that they are playing in the Rugby World Cup, it is something so big and I know we’re going to challenge England.” The lock added. “Our players are so into this game, and we’re excited and happy at the same time knowing that being there on the field and giving everything that we have can bring us rewards. “
Booi has faith in her squad but doesn’t underplay the mountain they will have to climb if they want to end the Roses run. “If we want to spring the surprise of the tournament, we need to execute well when we have the ball. We have done that in stages so far in the tournament, but we need to put it all together on Sunday.”
“Whatever happens, we must leave the field knowing we left nothing out there. That is what I have asked the players and I believe they will respond,”
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Latest Comments
I don’t really care what the Ireland team did or didn’t say about the final and I’m an ABs supporter. However, what does AG know about it? He wasn’t there and he’s just making bold assumptions based on his imagination of how things rolled. Etzebeth was there on the field. It may have been misinterpreted, or not. You can have a fecking sense of many people are around you without asking them to raise their hands and be counted. You can call Etzebeth arrogant if you like but I’d say it’s less arrogant than someone who wasn’t there and had nothing to do with the situation declaring it’s BS.
Go to commentsEngland had to bed in their new defensive system while challenging for the 6N. The schedule allowed them to try and focus on defense for first 3 matches and then target Ireland (the pre tournament target match). A win in France would be a bonus.
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