Springbok Women's coach Lawrence Sephaka has made five changes to his team ahead of their final World Cup pool match against Wales on Saturday.
With only pride to play for, Sephaka has overhauled his backline. Fullback Cindy Cant and flyhalf Zandile Nojoko have been drafted into the starting XV at the expense of wing Veroeshka Grain and outside centre Benele Makwezela. In addition to this, captain Zenay Jordaan shifts from flyhalf to the midfield and fullback Siviwe Basweni switches to wing.
Up front, prop Nwabisa Ngxatu and flanks Andrea Mentoor and Rachelle Geldenhuys are handed starting berths, relegating Shona-Leah Weston, Portia Jonga and Vuyolwethu Vazi to the bench, while loose forward Lamla Momoti moves from the side of the scrum to No 8.
Sephaka also included young wing Sinazo Nobele in the match-day squad and she looks likely to make her debut from the bench.
'Sinazo has impressed me with her skills and attitude since our World Cup holding camp in Cape Town', he said. 'She has not dropped her head once at training, despite being on the fringes of selection.'
Springbok Women – 15 Cindy Cant, 14 Siviwe Basweni, 13 Zenay Jordaan, 12 Lorinda Brown, 11 Phumeza Gadu, 10 Zandile Nojoko, 9 Fundiswa Plaatjie, 8 Lamla Momoti, 7 Andrea Mentoor, 6 Rachelle Geldenhuys, 5 Nolusindiso Booi, 4 Celeste Adonis, 3 Cebisa Kula, 2 Denita Wentzel, 1 Nwabisa Ngxatu.
Subs: 16 Thantaswa Macingwana, 17 Portia Jonga, 18 Vuyolwethu Vazi, 19 Shona-Leah Weston, 20 Tayla Kinsey, 21 Veroeshka Grain, 22 Sinazo Nobele.
Photo: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images
