Springbok Women team named for RWC opener against France

Springbok Women coach Stanley Raubenheimer has named his team for Saturday's Rugby World Cup opener against France in Auckland.

The team has a familiar and experienced look, with only prop Sanelisiwe Charlie not a regular starter this season.

Raubenheimer named both his Rugby World Cup veterans, Nolusindiso Booi and Zenay Jordaan, in the match-day squad, with Booi leading the SA women in the Pool C encounter at Eden Park.

Jordaan will play off the bench and will equal the Springbok Women record of 34 Test caps held by Zandile Nojoko when she gets a run.

Raubenheimer also picked Tayla Kinsey at scrumhalf and prop Asithandile Ntoyanto on the bench, meaning all four players with previous Rugby World Cup experience will be involved in the World Cup opener.

Charlie will make a first start since August 2021, when she debuted against Kenya in Stellenbosch. The EP Queens loosehead prop was, however, part of the Bok squads in Wales last year, as well as the Japan and Spain series this year.

Substitute Eloise Webb is the only player selected who saw no action in the four Tests against Japan and Spain as she was sidelined with injury.

15 Nadine Roos, 14 Nomawethu Mabenge, 13 Zintle Mpupha, 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 11 Simamkele Namba, 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Tayla Kinsey, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Sinazo Mcatshulwa, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Rights Mkhari, 4 Nolusindiso Booi (captain), 3 Babalwa Latsha, 2 Lindelwa Gwala, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie

Substitutes: 16 Roseline Botes, 17 Asithandile Ntoyanto, 18 Monica Mazibukwana, 19 Catha Jacobs, 20 Lusanda Dumke, 21 Unam Tose, 22 Zenay Jordaan, 23 Eloise Webb

Raubenheimer said he was confident in his players.

"I had a pretty good idea of what my starting team was going to look like for a while now, and I told