Mabenge will slot straight into the right-wing berth held by Jakkie Cilliers against Japan and Australia and will start in her 18th Test, while Mdliki, a former Junior Springbok Women prop, will be in line to make her Test debut off the bench.
Cilliers, Libbie Janse van Rensburg and Maceala Samboya all picked up injuries in the last week and were ruled out of Saturday’s Test, with Mabenge and Mdliki joining the official squad.
Swys de Bruin and his coaching staff made a couple of changes to the starting side that just fell short against the Wallaroos last weekend, mostly in the pack, where Nolusindiso Booi returns as captain, resulting in a straight swop with Danelle Lochner, who reverts to being one of the impact players.
Last weekend’s captain, Lusanda Dumke, remains at flanker in a new loose forward combination with Catha Jacobs (flanker) and Sizophila Solontsi (No 8), with the duo swopping places with Sinazo Mcatshulwa and Aseze Hele, who will finish the game.
The experienced front row of Yonela Nxingolo, Lindelwa Gwala and Babalwa Latsha will be reunited for the first time since July 2022 when they fronted up against Japan in Kamaishi.
Nomawethu Mabenge in training with Nadine Roos (left).
Gwala has recovered from the calf strain that kept her out of the first two WXV clashes, and replaces Roseline Botes at hooker, while Nxingolo swops roles with Sanelisiwe Charie, who started the first two games of the tournament. Mdliki comes in for Azisa Mkiva on the bench.
Mabenge’s selection and the return of Tayla Kinsey at scrumhalf are the only changes in the backline.
Kinsey is the sole backline survivor that started against Italy in last year’s WXV 2 clash at the same venue, while Jacobs, Dumke, Booi and Latsha are the only starters in the pack who are back again.
De Bruin said the team’s mission remains the same – adding building blocks to their ultimate destination, the Rugby World Cup in England next year.
“We tweaked around a bit in order to look at more combinations and sadly had to call for replacements as well due to the three injuries,” said De Bruin.
“That said, we still have good momentum going into this last game, an important one for us as it is another opportunity to beat a better ranked team.”
Of the inclusion of Mdliki, the coach said it is exciting to see the pathway in the women’s game starting to deliver: “She was part of that junior squad who played against Zimbabwe in 2022 and trained with us for the last two months.
Nombuyekezo Mdliki (middle) is the only uncapped player in the match-23.
“That group already delivered Vainah Ubisi, Byrhandrè Dolf, Mary Zulu and Sinelitha Noxexe to the senior team. It bodes well for the future and I am sure Nombuyekezo will show why the coaches have so much faith in her.”
De Bruin was impressed by Italy’s abilities around the field.
“They certainly can mix it up, with good interplay by backs and forwards, and they have some really good decisionmakers, such a vital aspect in the women’s game,” he said.
“They will test us in different ways than Japan and Australia did and that is perfect for us, as we need different pictures all the time on our growth path. We want to finish this tournament strong, so hope to end off with a performance that not only ourselves, but the country can be proud of.”
Springbok Women’s team to face Italy in Cape Town:
15. Eloise Webb (Border Ladies) – 13 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
14. Nomawethu Mabenge (Boland Dames) – 17 caps, 70 points (14 tries)
13. Zintle Mpupha (Bulls Daisies) – 23 caps, 106 points (20 tries, 3 conversions)
12. Chumisa Qawe (Bulls Daisies) – 18 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
11. Ayanda Malinga (Bulls Daisies) – 10 caps, 55 points (10 tries)
10. Nadine Roos (unattached) – 14 caps, 31 points (5 tries, 3 conversions)
9. Tayla Kinsey (vice-captain; Sharks Women) – 37 caps, 48 points (2 tries, 16 conversions, 2 penalty goals)
8. Sizophila Solontsi (Bulls Daisies) – 24 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
7. Catha Jacobs (Leicester Tigers Women) – 18 caps, 5 points (1 try)
6. Lusanda Dumke (Bulls Daisies) – 32 caps, 50 points (10 tries)
5. Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daisies) – 17 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
4. Nolusindiso Booi (captain, DHL Western Province) – 48 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
3. Babalwa Latsha (Harlequins Women) – 32 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
2. Lindelwa Gwala (Ealing Trailfinders) - 34 caps, 70 points (14 tries)
1. Yonela Ngxingolo (Bulls Daisies) – 31 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Replacements:
16. Micke Gunter (Bulls Daisies) – 10 caps, 5 points, 1 try
17. Sanelisiwe Charlie (Bulls Daisies) – 21 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
18. Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – uncapped
19. Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) – 15 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
20. Sinazo Mcatshulwa (DHL Western Province) – 34 caps, 50 points (10 tries)
21. Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 24 caps, 50 points (10 tries)
22. Unam Tose (Bulls Daisies) – 22 Tests, 5 points (1 try)
23. Byrhandrè Dolf (Bulls Daisies) – 15 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Selected Springbok Women stats:
- Nolusindiso Booi will extend her record as the most-capped Springbok Women’s player with 49 Test caps.
- Tayla Kinsey will extend her record for the most-capped Springbok Women scrumhalf to 38. She is also South Africa’s second most-capped women’s player in history.
- Lindelwa Gwala will extend her record for the most-capped Springbok Women hooker to 35.
- Nombuyekezo Mdliki will become Springbok Women’s player #175 when she takes the field.
