It’s very noticeable how the Women Boks’ programme has advanced over the past few years.
This was one nation where the men’s team stood head and shoulders above the women’s. I dimly recall seeing a fledgling SA team play United Knigdom Armed Forces at Rosslyn Park a few years ago. Though the Boks won, there was the sense of a great adventure, a rare visit abroad to judge where they stood in ability.
Since then the national board has stepped up its support for the women’s game. One significant move was to appoint Lynne Cantwell, the distinguished Irish international, as High-Performance Manager.
Their international schedule has mushroomed. In the past two years they have found themselves playing Canada, France and Spain amongst others.
Their position isn’t helped by the fact they in turn stand head and shoulders above all their African rivals. Standards are rising fast there too, but only Kenya have managed to join the Boks in WXV – level 3 as against level 2.
So it is good news that the two teams will meet on 16 September at the University of Western Cape in a warm-up. Then comes the excitement of a second clash with the reborn Barbarians a week later.
They will complete their preparations with a game against Samoa, one of their WVX2 rivals, in Wellington (SA, not NZ) on 7 October. As you will see below, this comes just a week before the curtain goes up.
Their three WXV fixtures look like this:
13 October v Scotland at Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
20 October v Italy at Athlone Stadium, Cape Town
27 October v Samoa, also at Athlone Stadium
Louis Koen has announced his latest training squad. One vital chaange from the previous squadis the addition of 19 players from the Bulls Daisies and DHL Western Province. They all took a short break after meeting in the final of the Women’s Premier Division last month.
It’s noticeable how many of them are now attached to overseas clubs, in England and the USA. Nor should we forget that WXV is an annual event, not a one-off. For a team like the Boks it means that the coaching staff can plan for long-term advance.
Springbok training squad:
Xoliswa Khuzwayo, Aliyah Tchogna Njamen, Piwokuhle Nyanda (all Mastercard Golden Lions Women), Roseline Botes, Nolusindiso Booi, Danelle Lochner, Luchell Hanekom, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Veroeshka Grain, Chuma Qawe (all DHL Western Province), Nompumelelo Mathe, Tayla Kinsey, Mary Zulu (all Sharks, Catha Jacobs (Leicester Tigers), Babalwa Latsha, Aseza Hele (Harlequins), Amber Schonert (Sale Sharks), Samantha Els (New York RC), Lindelwa Gwala (Trailfinders), Asithandile Ntoyanto, Micke Gunter, Yonela Ngxingolo, Vainah Ubisi, Lusanda Dumke, Lerato Makua, Sinelitha Noxeke*, Rumandi Potgieter, Unam Tose, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Unathi Mali, Jakkie Cilliers, Byrhandre Dolf (all Bulls Daisies), Sanelisiwe Charlie (EP Queens), Machaela Samboya (Boland Dames)
(34)
*uncapped
There is the usual sad litany of players denied the chance to compete through injury: Chumisa Qawe, Nomawethu Mabenge, Sizophila Solontsi, Azisa Mkiva and Asiphe Mayaba and Aphiwe Ngwevu.
