Babalwa Latsha will captain an injury-hit Springbok Women’s team against Spain in Villajoyosa on Saturday.
Regular captain Nolusindiso Booi suffered a knee injury in training, which placed her on a growing injury list that includes Zinhle Ndawonde (broken finger), Aphiwe Ngwevu (knock to the arm) and Snenhlanhla Shozi (concussion).
Coach Stanley Raubenheimer made five personnel changes to the starting team that lost 19-5 to Wales.
Karthy Dludla and Sinazo Mcatshulwa will form a new lock pairing with Booi out and Bernice Strydom being managed off the bench due to a knee niggle.
Lindelwa Gwala replaces Annique Geswind at hooker and Kamohele Makoele fills the void left by Mcatshulwa’s switch to the second row.
In the backline, Zintle Mpupha moves from flyhalf to outside centre alongside Demi Nel, as cover for Ndawonde, which will see Kirsten Conrad take over at No 10.
‘Spain is a regular Test-playing nation and we respect them,’ Raubenheimer said. ‘The European teams, in general, are very focused on the set pieces, so they will look to dominate in the scrums and lineouts. They like to back this up with an attractive brand of attacking rugby.
‘We only have two replacements left in the backline, and we have two scrumhalves on the bench, which is a bit of a challenge. As tough as it is for us to lose players, this serves as a fantastic opportunity for others to step up and show what they can do at this level.’
Springbok Women – 15 Vuyolwethu Maqholo, 14 Nosiphiwo Goda, 13 Zintle Mpupha, 12 Demi Nel, 11 Alana-Lee Horne, 10 Kirsten Conrad, 9 Tayla Kinsey, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Kamohele Makoele, 6 Lusanda Dumke, 5 Sinazo Mcatshulwa, 4 Karthy Dludla, 3 Babalwa Latsha, 2 Lindelwa Gwala, 1 Thantaswa Macingwane.
Subs: 16 Yonela Ngxingolo, 17 Katlego Moremi, 18 Bernice Strydom, 19 Nthabiseng Marutla, 20. Pennbry McNamara, 21 Charmaine Kayser, 22 Felicia Jacobs, 23 Fundiswa Plaatjie.
