Twickenham awaits final Autumn clash

South Africa head coach Stanley Raubenheimer has named a fairly inexperienced side to take on the Barbarians in the first match between the sides at Twickenham this Saturday evening.

The Springbok women scored three second half tries against Wales two weeks ago and then six against the England Under-20s last Sunday as they started to find their rhythm on the playing field.

“We have progressed well over the last three weeks I believe, but we have not changed what we are working on, and we will continue to look for improvement in those areas in our final game against the Barbarians,” explained Raubenheimer.

“We are still striving for better possession and to keep the ball for longer. By doing that, we can control the game better. We saw an improvement of that in recent weeks which resulted in tries, so that will again be a focus area for us.”

Raubenheimer is aware of the occasion though, and said there will be a willingness to give the ball some air, courtesy of their opponents.

“We realise we are playing the Baabaas, so we will be looking at opportunities where we can cut loose from anywhere on the field and can hopefully emulate them in that regard,” said Raubenheimer.

The coach had his hand forced a bit with his final team selection due injuries to the Test starters Nadine Roos (wing), Zintle Mpupha (centre) and Tayla Kinsey (scrumhalf) at the back, while he is also without Libbie Janse van Rensburg (flyhalf), who has made real impact on tour so far.

Mpupha and Kinsey have not recovered from knocks sustained against Wales, and Roos and Janse van Rensburg picked up injuries against England Under-20 last Sunday.

“At least I could pick a full complement of backline players, despite those injuries. The midfield combination of Jakkie Cilliers and Qumisa Qawe is a young one and Unam Tose will start for the first time on tour,” he explained.

Up front, Catha Jacobs swops places with Sinazo Mcatshulwa on the side of the scrum from the team that played Wales, with the latter playing off the bench, while prop Asithandile Ntoyanto will earn a first start on tour after playing off the bench in Vannes and Cardiff.

Raubenheimer also named Micke Gunter at hooker after a first tour appearance on Sunday, with Lindelwa Gwala, who started against Wales two weeks ago, moving to the bench.

Gwala, Mcatshulwa and Lerato Makua are the only players on the bench that saw action in Wales. Both replacement props, Sanelisiwe Charlie and Monica Mazibukwana, had their first taste of the tour last Sunday, as did Rumandi Potgieter and Donelle Snyders. Ayanda Malinga came off the bench in France, but was forced to leave the field soon thereafter as she took a knock to the head.

The Barbarians meanwhile have named their strongest ever women's lineup with a number of World Cup winners from England included.

Rochelle “Rocky” Clark, Katy Daley-Mclean and Natasha “Mo” Hunt are all involved while there are a large contingent of players who are fresh from Autumn tests.

Ireland prop Lindsay Peat start alongside Laura Russell of Canada and the USA’s Hope Rogers in the front row with France’s Lenaig Corson joined by Alycia Washington behind them in the second row.

Ciara Griffin starts in the backrow having retired from international duty just last week while there is an all Irish midfield with Jenny Murphy and Sene Naoupu starting

Barbarians Women XV:

15 Bulou Mataitoga (USA, Berkeley All Blues)14 Rhona Lloyd (Scotland, Les Lionnes dU Stade Bordelais)13 Sene Naoupu (Ireland, Leinster)12 Jenny Murphy (Ireland, Old Belvedere)11 Sarah Levy (USA, New York Rugby Club)10 Katy Daley-McLean (England, Sale Sharks)9 Natasha Hunt (England, Gloucester Hartpury) CAPTAIN1 Lindsay Peat (Ireland, Railway Union)2 Laura Russell (Canada, Toronto Nomads)3 Hope Rogers (USA, Life West)4 Alycia Washington (USA, Worcester Warriors)5 Lenaig Corson (France, Stade Rennais Rugby)6 Ciara Griffin (Ireland, UL Bohemians) VICE CAPTAIN7 Karen Paquin (Canada, Stade Bordelais)8 Anna Caplice (Ireland, Gloucester Hartpury)Replacements16 Isabel Rico Vazquez (Spain, Olímpico De Pozuelo Madrid)17 Rochelle Clark (England, Saracens)18 Simi Pam (England, Bristol Bears)19 Sonia Green (England, Saracens)20 Beth Dainton (Wales, Harlequins)21 Sammy Wong (New Zealand, Wasps)22 Morgane Peyronnet (France, Montpellier Herault Rugby)23 Katie Mason (England, Wasps)

Springbok Women:15. Eloise Webb (Boland Dames; 7 caps, 30 points - 6 tries)14. Nomawethu Mabenge (EP Queens; 4 caps; 5 points - 1 try)13. Jakkie Cilliers (Leopards; 2 caps; 13 points - 1 try, 1 conversion, 2 penalty goals)12. Chumisa Qawe (DHL WP; 6 caps; 5 points - 1 try)11. Simamkele Namba (DHL WP, 1 cap, 0 points)10. Zenay Jordaan (vice-captain; EP Queens; 29 caps; 73 points, 10 tries, 8 conversions, 3 penalty goals)9. Unam Tose (Border Ladies; 5 caps, 0 points)8. Sizophila Solontsi (Cell C Sharks Ladies; 8 caps; 10 points - 2 tries)7. Catha Jacobs (Blue Bulls Women; 4 caps, 0 points)6. Lusanda Dumke (Border Ladies; 10 caps; 15 points - 3 tries)5. Rights Mkhari (Blue Bulls Women; 5 caps; 35 points - 7 tries)4. Nolusindiso Booi (captain; DHL WP, 28 caps; 10 points - 2 tries)3. Babalwa Latsha (DHL WP; 11 caps, 10 points - 2 tries)2. Micke Gunter (Cell C Sharks Ladies; 1 cap; 0 points)1. Asithandile Ntoyanto (Border Women; 7 caps, 5 points - 1 try)Replacements:16. Lindelwa Gwala (Cell C Sharks Ladies; 12 caps, 5 points - 1 try)17. Sanelisiwe Charlie (EP Queens; 2 caps, 0 points)18. Monica Mazibukwana (EP Queens; uncapped)19. Lerato Makua (Blue Bulls Women; 1 cap; 0 points)20. Sinazo Mcatshulwa (DHL WP; 10 caps; 15 points - 3 tries)21. Rumandi Potgieter (Blue Bulls Women; uncapped)22. Ayanda Malinga (Blue Bulls Women; 4 caps; 15 points - 3 tries)23. Donelle Snyders (DHL WP; 2 caps, 0 points)