women
international women
South Africa will be without all-time leading scorer Libbie Janse van Rensburg for their side WXV Global Series crossover game in Sevilla next weekend.
The Springbok Women playmaker returned home with an ankle injury sustained in her side’s 41-29 win over Italy on Saturday.
To replace Janse van Rensburg, head coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September invited Mary Zulu to the camp.
Zulu, 23, has not won a Test cap since triumphing in the African Women’s Rugby Cup earlier this year. She, however, captained the South Africa A team for the two-match tour Brazil last month. In 18 test appearances, Zulu scored 45 points.
Winger Ayanda Malinga also returned to South Africa with a knee injury sustained in her team’s 50-19 defeat by Wales.
There are also concerns about another playmaker, Byrhandré Dolf. The 23-year-old started Saturday’s match against Italy in Pordenone at halftime, but left the field with a head injury.
She will complete HIA protocols on Monday, after which a further assessment will be made on her availability for next weekend’s match.
South Africa bounced back with a win over Italy, the win coming at the first opportunity after a heavy defeat to Wales in Cardiff. The side relied on the strength of their attacking pack and the strikes of Jakkie Cilliers to put the disappointment of their night in the Welsh capital behind them and regain some of the momentum they have built this year.
Next weekend the Springbok Women will face *Las Leonas* for the 10th time. South Africa currently holds the lead in the game, with six wins from nine matches.
Spain enter the match after finishing third in the tournament WXV Global Series Challenger in Hong Kong. They lost to Fiji in the first week before the beating Samoa comprehensively six days later.
Their clash with Brazil on the third weekend was abandoned due to inclement weather, with both teams awarded two points for the draw.