Faith Tshauke and Xolelwa Diliza, the uncapped Bulls Daisies pair, have been named in the 32-player Springbok Women squad for a short tour of France and Spain.
Utility forward Tshauke’s inclusion comes as no surprise as she was a standout performer in the recently completed Women’s Premier Division, won by the Daisies for a third year running.
Hooker Diliza comes in for Micke Gunter, who was ruled out of the tour after picking up a knee injury in the final.
Their Daisies team-mate Lerato Makua is back in the group after injury kept her out of action for a full international season, but overall, Swys de Bruin and his coaching group have shown faith in the tried and tested in announcing the squad, which Nolusindiso Booi will captain.
“Faith had a great season for the Daisies, and her versatility counts in her favour as she covers all loose forward positions and can play lock. She reminds me a bit of Franco Mostert with her work rate and adaptability,” said De Bruin.
“Xolelwa has been to a number of our camps this year, and with Micke sadly missing out, she gets a great opportunity to travel with us and enhance her claims for a World Cup spot.
“It is also great to have Lerato back — she had been a regular with us before her injury and she will be integrated back into the team on the tour, where we are planning to test various combinations.”
The squad will have a short pre-departure camp in Cape Town before they fly out to France late on Friday evening.
Nadine Roos, Zintle Mpupha, and Ayanda Malinga will first represent the Springbok Women’s Sevens in the final Challenger Series tournament in Poland next weekend, before joining the squad in Spain.
French-based lock Sinazo Mcatshulwa will link up with her compatriots on Sunday.
Western Province scrumhalf Alicia Willemse, who has played for the Springbok Women's Sevens before, will not travel to Poland as she has been included in the Fifteens squad to France and Spain with the Springbok Women, like she did in last year’s corresponding tour.
The South Africans will be based in Marcoussis near Paris, where they will train against France and play a match against England Under-20 before travelling to Spain.
They will play their hosts in a once-off Test in Alicante on April 19 and return to South Africa on April 21.
“We will have a live session against France and then play an England team consisting of mostly younger players in a couple of chukkas, and in both those sessions, we will play around with potential combinations,” said De Bruin.
“When we travel to Spain and have the three sevens players back with us, we will be looking for a more settled line-up as that will be an important match for us. We need to have a reality check on how well we have prepared back home during all our camps, and Spain will be perfect for that.”
The Springbok Women's touring squad
Forwards (18): Azisa Mkiva, Luchell Hanekom, Nolusindiso Booi (captain), Nomsa Mokwai (all Western Province); Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies); Xolelwa Diliza*, Sanelisiwe Charlie, Yonela Ngxingolo, Sizophila Solontsi, Faith Tshauke, Anathi Qolo, Lerato Makua (all Bulls Daisies); Aseza Hele (Boland Dames), Danelle Lochner, Babalwa Latsha (Harlequins), Lindelwa Gwala (Ealing Trailfinders), Catha Jacobs (Leicester), Sinazo Mcatshulwa (Lille Métropole RC Villeneuvois).
Backs (14): Unam Tose, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Jakkie Cilliers, Byrhandre Dolf, Chumisa Qawe, Ayanda Malinga, Zintle Mpupha (all Bulls Daisies); Maceala Samboya (Boland Dames), Aphiwe Ngwevu, Eloise Webb (Border Ladies), Nadine Roos (unattached), Tayla Kinsey, Mary Zulu (both Sharks Women), Alicia Willemse (Western Province).