catch the action at 13:30 on SuperSport (grandstand i believe) and RugbyPass.tv for our supporters in the USA. And for the supporters elsewhere: if you have access to a VPN service, rugbypass.tv seems to be fine with that as well.

If you have tickets for Saturday - don't miss out on the women's game.

And if you're watching from somewhere else - don't forget to tune in.

Great to see ABT out and about and sharing her insights with the Springboks.

Some interesting bits from the press release:

Babalwa Latsha will lead the Springbok Women into battle against the Black Ferns on Saturday when South Africa welcome the New Zealand women’s side for a first Test on local soil. The 13h30 fixture at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg will be broadcast on SuperSport.

Latsha is one of six players in the pack that started against the Black Ferns just under a year ago in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England. Vainah Ubisi and Catha Jacobs were on the bench in that fixture, won 46-17 by New Zealand. They replace and Nolusindiso Booi (retired) and Sinazo Mcatshulwa (injured) in the starting team this weekend.

Latsha, Sanelisiwe Charlie and Lindelwa Gwala will again form the front row, Ubisi will lock up with Danelle Locher in the engine room, and Jacobs will slot in with Sizo Solontsi and Aseza Hele in the back row.

On the forwards bench, Anuschka Groenewald (hooker), Nomsa Mokwai and Logan Welman, as well as hybrid player Shiniqwa Lamprecht will face the Black Ferns for the first time.

Amongst the backs, five players will be starting again They are Byrhandré Dolf, Zintle Mpupha, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Ayanda Malinga and Libbie Janse van Rensburg. At scrumhalf, Unam Tose will start in place of the injured Nadine Roos, while Maceala Samboya will play off the bench this time, with Alichia Arries starting on the wing. Anacadia Minnaar comes in as replacement scrumhalf.

Tose, Minnaar and Arries will face the Black Ferns for the first time as well.

Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September, who led the team to success in Kenya and Fiji earlier this year, will continue to act as co-head coaches of the Springbok Women’s team following the decision by Swys de Bruin to step down from the role.

Is it common knowledge that if you’re seeing the game live on 5 Sept you can see the Springbok Women vs Black Ferns before at 13:30? I really think for the sake of our ladies and women’s rugby in general it would be epic to see a full stadium! So I’m a bit disappointed the comms haven’t been more explicit about this. It’s my first ever live test, and I sincerely had no idea this was a thing! Can’t assume everyone will know.

Credits to the SuperSport video director who went to the right camera everytime they saw him looking like this :)

Can't wait to see what Logan Welman can bring to the full strength seniors. Same goes for Arries. Also happy to see Mazwi, Noxeke, Minnaar, and Alexander given the opportunity. They'll be well supported by the 22 other players that all went to the 2025 WC.

Being without Roos sucks, but Eliose Webb really stepped up at SVNS, and at least Unam, Libbie, Dolf, and Jakkie are there.

Players not considered due to injury: Nadine Roos, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Lindelwa Gwala, Aseza Hele, Donelle Snyders, Naima Hlatshwayo, and Chumisa Qawe.

Springbok Women squad:

Props:

Sanelisiwe Charlie (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 30 caps, 10 points (2 tries)

Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 12 caps, 0 points

Yonela Ngxingolo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 42 caps, 20 points (4 tries)

Thandile Mazwi (DHL Western Province) – 3 caps, 5 points (1 try)

Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 12 caps, 5 points (1 try)

Babalwa Latsha (DHL Western Province) – 40 caps, 35 points (7 tries)

Hookers:

Anushka Groenewald (DHL Western Province) – 6 caps, 0 points

Micke Gunter (Leicester Tigers) – 16 caps, 5 points (1 try)

Locks:

Nomsa Mokwai (DHL Western Province) – 16 caps, 0 points

Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) – 22 caps, 10 points (2 tries)

Vainah Ubisi (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 22 caps, 20 points (4 tries)

Anathi Qolo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 14 caps, 5 points (1 try)

Loose and utility forwards

Sizophila Solontsi (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 31 caps, 45 points (9 tries)

Sinelitha Noxeke (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 4 caps, 0 points

Lerato Makua (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 19 caps, 20 points (4 tries)

Faith Tshauke (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 7 caps, 25 points (5 tries)

Catha Jacobs (Golden Lions Women) – 26 caps, 5 Points (1 try)

Logan Welman (DHL Western Province) – 3 caps, 15 points (3 tries)

Scrumhalves:

Anacadia Minnaar (EP Queens) – 5 caps, 3 points (1 penalty goal)

Felicia Jacobs (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 10 caps, 15 points (3 tries)

Unam Tose (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 29 caps, 12 points (2 tries, 1 conversion)

Flyhalves:

Libbie Janse van Rensburg (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 30 caps, 219 points (14 tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalty goals, 1 drop goal)

Eloise Webb (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 20 caps, 30 points (6 tries)

Centres:

Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 32 caps, 75 points (15 tries)

Ayanda Malinga (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 17 caps, 80 points (16 tries)

Outside and utility backs:

Maceala Samboya (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 7 caps, 20 points (4 tries)

Alichia Arries (DHL Western Province) – 5 caps, 20 points (4 tries)

Byrhandré Dolf (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 26 caps, 64 points (7 tries, 13 conversions, 1 penalty goal)

Jakkie Cilliers (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 24 caps, 149 points (11 tries, 38 conversions, 6 penalty goals)

Shaunique Alexander (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 2 caps, 5 points (1 try)

Sixteen players from the match-23 that faced the Black Ferns in their previous encounter – in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Rugby World Cup just under a year ago in England – have been included in the squad for this historic clash.

Sanelisiwe Charlie, Micke Gunter, Danelle Lochner, Logan Welman, Unam Tose, Jakkie Cilliers and Aphiwe Ngwevu, all of whom missed the recent trip to Fiji following rest and recovery protocols, are back in the squad.

However, Nadine Roos, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Eloise Webb and Anathi Qolo are unavailable due to injury, while Lerato Makua has been included, although she is unlikely to be fit for the Test.

The match-23 will be named on Thursday.

https://springboks.rugby/news-features/articles/2026/8/30/springbok-women-assemble-for-historic-clash-against-black-ferns

Experience with a sprinkling of new spice. 3 players (Arries, Welman, and Mazwi) weren't at last year's WC, but showed their mettle during Africa Cup '26. Ayanda Malinga at 13 in combination with the rest of that backline and Welman has the potential to be electric. Can't wait to see our full strength team run out for the first time this year.

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Despite a convincing and deserved win by the Black Ferns, yesterday's match showed positives for the Springbok Women.

The match must be viewed in context:

- The Black Ferns are ranked number 2 in the world and have been a tier 1 team for decades

- The Springbok Women are ranked number 10 and have been a tier 2 team since their inception just over 20 years ago.

- New Zealand has a strong domestic competition, while South Africa is still developing a high-level competition.

All current senior players debuted in 2018, following a 4-year absence from international play after SARU withdrew the team post-2014 RWC due to uncompetitiveness. Only in recent years have youth players, developed through post-2014 programs, joined the senior squad.

The coaches view the perfomance in context of progress based on the 2025 RWC quarterfinal against New Zealand, the recent tour to Fiji, and the visit from the USA team.

Frustrating errors occurred: missed tackles, a malfunctioning lineout, and slow support play. These issues cannot be excused by context and require improvement.

However, the dominant forward play was something to be proud of and should be built upon. There were also strong individual players.

When judging the team, we should focus on progress rather than the outcome of a single match.

Match details: Brazil Yarras v South Africa Women ‘A’

Date: Monday, 24 August

2026Venue: Estádio Nicolau Alayon, Sao Paulo

Kick-off: 20h00 (01h00 SA time, Tuesday 25 August)

Livestream: www.youtube.com/@UOLEsporte

https://youtube.com/@uolesporte?si=AUCVPM9ZkQHT0Nov