Cheery Springbok Women embracing daunting English challenge at World Cup

Nolusindiso Booi and Zenay Jordaan both scored tries the last time the Springbok Women played England - in the 2013 Women's Nations Cup - with the Red Roses scraping home 18-17, but it is fair to say a lot has happened with the respective teams since that day.  

Booi and Jordaan, the two most capped players in the team, will front up again at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland on Sunday in the final pool match for both teams in the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. 

This time around though, the Springbok Women will be looking for a first win after defeats to France and Fiji, while England already brushed aside those opponents and qualified for the quarter-finals of the competition.

In fact, England will be looking for a 28th consecutive win when they meet South Africa and are hot favourites to extend that record tally to 29 victories, especially after Springbok Women coach, Stanley Raubenheimer made seven changes to his starting team for the match.  

That has since become six, with Simamkele Namba a late withdrawal and Zintle Mpupha slotting back into the midfield, where she played against France and scored a try against Fiji.  

For Booi, the changes - with a number of players getting a first run in the tournament - will be a positive as they will bring lots of energy.

15 Eloise Webb, 14 Nomawethu Mabenge, 13 Zintle Mpupha, 12 Chumisa Qawe, 11 Nadine Roos, 10 Zenay Jordaan, 9 Tayla Kinsey, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Lerato Makua, 6 Lusanda Dumke, 5 Catha Jacobs, 4 Nolusindiso Booi, 3 Babalwa Latsha, 2 Roseline Botes, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie

Substitutes: 16. Micke Gunter, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Azisa Mkiva, 19 Nompumelelo Mathe, 20 Sizophila Solontsi, 21 Rumandi Potgieter, 22 Jakkie Cilliers, 23 Chuma Qawe

"It’s a very exciting squad because they