Africa-Press – South-Africa. For the most-capped loose forward in Springbok Women history, actions count more than words as the team contemplate and prepare for Sunday’s Women’s Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against the Black Ferns.
That is the message from 28-year-old flanker Sinazo Mcatshulwa, who was named by head coach Swys de Bruin at No 7 in the starting XV on Thursday to earn a 42nd Test cap at Sandy Park in Exeter on Sunday against New Zealand, a team she has not faced before.
A World Cup quarterfinal is another first for the South Africans.
“We have not been here before, but that excites us rather than scares us,” Mcatshulwa said.
“We played the Black Ferns XV back home a few weeks ago and that gave us an idea of their style and strengths, but this New Zealand team obviously is something else.
“What we saw against the New Zealanders in Cape Town was our physicality is tough to live with and that gives us confidence for the weekend.”
Mcatshulwa, who has completed a stint in France playing for Métropole RC Villeneuvois in Lille, said she did not enjoy the Boks’ 57-10 defeat against France in their final pool game on Sunday and would have liked joining the action earlier off the bench.
Starting against the Black Ferns, Mcatshulwa will aim to replicate an impressive performance that resulted in her scoring the match-winning try starting the pool win against Italy, where she also gained 110m with 16 effective ball carries.
“The trick for the weekend will be to look to what we want to achieve and to go out there and enjoy it.
“We have had a good few of months of rugby and I know we are capable of playing with the best. The weekend’s game will also be about our pack’s ability to be very physical and then give our skilled backs the chance to play. I believe we can do that.
“We have prepared well for this one and we have showed we can play with the best. This is what this tournament is all about, proving we belong.”
De Bruin named Nolusindiso Booi at lock for Saturday’s historic quarter, where the Boks take on New Zealand with a bench consisting of seven forwards and one back.
The inclusion of Booi, the regular captain, is one of 10 changes to the starting team that lined up against France.
Booi, Lindelwa Gwala (hooker), Danelle Lochner (lock), Sizophila Solontsi (flanker), Libbie Janse van Rensburg (flyhalf), Zintle Mpupha (centre) and Ayanda Malinga (wing) were all rested against France, and were last in action against Italy two weekends ago.
In all, 13 members of the starting line-up and six replacements were involved in the York victory over Italy that secured the Bok Women a first RWC quarterfinal spot.
De Bruin opted to name seven forwards on the bench, with Eloise Webb the only backline cover for the biggest match yet in Springbok Women history.
“We decided on the 7-1 split because of the profile of our team,” he said.
“We are a team that like to dominate up front and playing two fresh packs — in each half — against the Black Ferns is a tactical decision. We rested all those players against France to be ready for this Test and now it’s time for them to take on New Zealand with fresh legs and eager minds.”
The coach said the Boks Women are aware of the threats from New Zealand.
“They have won the World Cup six times already; we did not even enter the qualification playoffs in 2017 and lost all our matches in 2022 — that is how far behind we are against them.”
Springbok Women team to face New Zealand:
15 Byrhandré Dolf — 25 caps, 62 points (7 tries, 12 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
14 Maceala Samboya — 6 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
13 Zintle Mpupha — 28 caps, 106 points (20 tries, 3 conversions)
12 Aphiwe Ngwevu — 30 caps, 65 points (13 tries)
11 Ayanda Malinga — 15 caps, 80 points (16 tries)
10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg — 29 caps, 219 points (14 tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalty goals, 1 drop goal)
9 Nadine Roos — 21 caps, 50 points (8 tries, 5 conversions)
8 Aseza Hele — 30 caps, 85 points (17 tries)
7 Sinazo Mcatshulwa — 41 caps, 60 points (12 tries)
6 Sizophila Solontsi — 30 caps, 50 points (10 tries)
5 Danelle Lochner — 21 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
4 Nolusindiso Booi (captain) — 54 caps, 5 points (1 try)
3 Babalwa Latsha (vice-captain) — 39 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
2 Lindelwa Gwala — 37 caps, 75 points (15 tries)
1 Sanelisiwe Charlie — 28 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Replacements:
16 Luchell Hanekom — 10 caps, 0 points
17 Yonela Ngxingolo — 38 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki — 8 caps, 0 points
19 Vainah Ubisi — 21 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
20 Anathi Qolo — 10 caps, 5 points (1 try)
21 Lerato Makua — 18 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
22 Catha Jacobs — 25 caps, 5 points (1 try)
23 Eloise Webb — 19 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
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