Springbok Women’s coach Lawrence Sephaka on Tuesday selected a 26-member squad for the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup in France, which starts at the beginning of August.
The squad comprised of 11 players with prior World Cup experience who would be aiming to guide the inexperienced contingent to glory in the tournament taking place from August 1 to 17.
The side would be captained by number-eight Mandisa Williams, who led the team in the 2010 showpiece in the England as well as the 2013 IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow.
Four of the eleven players — Williams, flank Lamla Momoti, prop Cebisa Kula and scrumhalf Fundiswa Plaatjie — featured in both the 2006 and 2010 World Cup tournaments in Canada and England respectively.
The other World Cup survivors were prop Portia Jonga, locks Nomathamsanqa Faleni and Nolusindiso Booi, flyhalf Zenay Jordaan, wing Phumeza Gadu and centres Ziyanda Tywaleni and Lorinda Brown.
South Africa were drawn in pool C with Australia, World Cup hosts France, and Wales.
The team would assemble on Wednesday for a training camp in Pretoria followed by a warm-up tour to London and France from June 25 to July 5.
Springbok Women’s Rugby World Cup squad : Forwards: Celeste Adonis, Nolusindiso Booi, Nomathamsanqa Faleni, Rachelle Geldenhuys, Portia Jonga, Cebisa Kula, Thantaswa Macingwana, Lamla Momoti, Nwabisa Ngxatu, Asithandile Ntoyanto, Vuyolwethu Vazi, Denita Wentzel, Shona-Leah Weston, Mandisa Williams (captain).
Backs: Siviwe Basweni, Lorinda Brown, Cindy Cant, Phumeza Gadu, Veroeshka Grain, Zenay Jordaan, Tayla Kinsey, Benele Makwezela, Fundiswa Plaatjie, Marithy Pienaar, Siphosethu Tshingana, Ziyanda Tywaleni.
Springbok Women’s 2014 World Cup fixtures in Marcoussis, Paris: August 1: South Africa v Australia; August 5: South Africa v France; August 9: South Africa v Wales.
Source : Sapa /gbm/jlb
