JOHANNESBURG — The Springbok Women are set to make history on Saturday, 4 July 2026, when they face the USA Eagles at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. The match marks the first time these two nations will meet on African soil, and signals the dawn of a new era of leadership for the South African squad.
Veteran tighthead prop Babalwa Latsha will permanently take the reins as team captain for the 2026 season. Taking over from the recently retired Nolusindiso Booi, Latsha brings immense experience to the role, anchoring the scrum for her 41st Test cap. Head coach Swys de Bruin noted that her natural leadership and previous experience standing in for Booi made her the obvious choice to guide the team forward.
“It is a massive honour and I am very proud to be entrusted with this responsibility,” Latsha stated regarding her appointment. “It is not about me however, but rather our team and the goals we have set to continue the good work we have done, especially last year when we qualified for the quarter-finals of the World Cup.”
Settled Squad Built on World Cup Momentum
South Africa, currently ranked 10th globally, heads into this two-Test series looking to build on the momentum of their successful 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign and their recent Rugby Africa Women’s Cup title defence.
De Bruin has opted for continuity, naming a highly settled starting XV. Only two players in the run-on side—wing Alichia Arries and No. 8 Logan Welman—did not feature in last year’s World Cup. Arries brings sevens experience and stellar domestic form, while Welman looks to build on her impressive senior Test debut in Kenya earlier this year, where she scored three tries.
The backline sees a slight reshuffle, with Jakkie Cilliers shifting to the right wing and Ayanda Malinga moving to outside centre. Up front, De Bruin has maintained his preferred six-two split on the bench, bringing in Thandile Mazwi as a replacement prop.
Set-Piece Dominance and Defensive Clarity
The eighth-ranked Americans, fresh off their Pacific Four tournament against New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, are expected to bring both a physical edge and an expansive attacking game. To counter this, the Springbok Women have placed a heavy emphasis on defensive clarity and forward dominance.
Assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt highlighted that extensive work has been put into scrums, wide ruck defence, and set-piece platforms. The tactical objective is clear: utilize South Africa’s traditional forward power to dictate the tempo of the game.
“We want to test ourselves against the best and because America’s ranked higher than us, that’s goal number one,” Johannes-Haupt said following Tuesday’s training session at St. John’s College. “We like dominating in front, so our set-piece and our forwards are what’s going to drive that.”
For a team that has won just once against the USA in six previous meetings, a 2011 victory in Ontario, Saturday offers a prime opportunity to measure their upward trajectory against top-tier opposition.
The match kicks off at 13h30 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Springbok Women Match-Day Squad:
Number | Player | Province / Club | Test Caps |
15 | Byrhandré Dolf | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 26 |
14 | Jakkie Cilliers | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 24 |
13 | Ayanda Malinga | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 17 |
12 | Aphiwe Ngwevu | Border Ladies | 32 |
11 | Alichia Arries | DHL Western Province | 5 |
10 | Libbie Janse van Rensburg | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 30 |
9 | Unam Tose | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 29 |
8 | Logan Welman | DHL Western Province | 3 |
7 | Catha Jacobs | Golden Lions Women | 26 |
6 | Sizophila Solontsi | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 31 |
5 | Danelle Lochner | Harlequins Women | 22 |
4 | Vainah Ubisi | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 22 |
3 | Babalwa Latsha (c) | DHL Western Province | 40 |
2 | Micke Gunter | Leicester Tigers | 16 |
1 | Sanelisiwe Charlie | Isuzu Bulls Daisies | 30 |
Replacements:
- Anushka Groenewald, 17. Yonela Ngxingolo, 18. Thandile Mazwi, 19. Anathi Qolo, 20. Sinelitha Noxeke, 21. Faith Tshauke, 22. Felicia Jacobs, 23. Eloise Webb.
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