Babalwa Latsha will be leading the national women’s rugby team that is preparing to face the United States tomorrow at noon.
The women’s Springboks and the USA will play each other at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, tomorrow at 1.30pm in a match that will clear the dew before the men’s Springboks face England at this stadium at 5.40pm.
Latsha (32), who will be playing his 41st game for the national team tomorrow, took over as Nolusindiso Booi has trapped the corks. Previously, he led the team in 15 games.
“Babalwa is a leader and one of the best players in the world in the prop area. All this made it easy for me to make the decision to make him captain,” said the coach of the women’s Springboks, Swys de Bruin.
De Bruin has announced a strong squad to face the United States. Only two players were absent when the local team reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup last year, Alichia Arries and Logan Welman.
“Nolusindiso Booi has led the team well in the past years and I am lucky because I had the opportunity to learn a lot from him. I don’t want to focus on getting this position but the most important thing is that the team continues to develop,” commented Latsha.
“We are looking forward to playing against the United States as we will be playing against them at home for the first time. They are a team that has been able to hold their own in recent years and they are the type of team that we want to practice with. We believe that we are constantly raising the level and we are expecting a good game.”
The Springs are ranked 10th in the world, while the United States is ranked ninth. The last time these countries met in 2024, in London, England, the USA won 38-17.
Bokke women’s team to face USA
Starters: 15 Byrhandré Dolf, 14 Jakkie Cilliers, 13 Ayanda Malinga, 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 11 Alichia Arries, 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Unam Tose, 8 Logan Welman, 7 Catha Jacobs, 6 Sizonerhhina Danbielsi 4 3 Read Latsha (captain), 2 Micke Gunter, 1 Satisfied Charlie
Bench players: 16 Anushka Groenewald, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Thandile Mazwi, 19 Anathi Qolo, 20 Sinelita Noxeke, 21 Faith Tshauke, 22 Felicia Jacobs, 23 Eloise Webb