Yonela Ngxingolo set for 50th cap as Springbok Women name team to face Ireland

Sizophila Solontsi takes over as captain in place of the injured Babalwa Latsha, while Xoliswa Khuzwayo moves from loosehead to tighthead prop. Sanelisiwe Charlie returns at loosehead after being rested against Spain earlier this month.

Maria Tshiremba is the other change to the starting XV, replacing Patience Mokone on the left wing.

Ngxingolo, who will become only the second Springbok Women's player to reach 50 Test caps after Nolusindiso Booi, is named among the replacements. Prop Thandile Mazwi and Anacadia Minnaar also come into the match-day squad, with Mazwi replacing the injured Nombuyekezo Mdliki.

Co-head coach Franzel September said the team's focus on building depth ahead of the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup was already paying dividends, with injuries to both regular tighthead props providing an early test of their resources.

"We could call on Thandile with great confidence as she played for us already this year and did well, the same as Xoliswa, who has been in the squad all season," said September.

"Tighthead is an important position in any team, even more so in our squad where we rate our scrums as a factor in any match, so having depth there worked out nicely for us.

On Nxingolo's 50th cap, September adedd: "As a squad we are also extremely pleased for Yonela and her family and happy that she could share this milestone in front of what we hope to be a good crowd at Athlone Stadium. She has been around since 2018 and in recent seasons, she became a very strong bench player for us, something she will do again this weekend."

September said Ireland, who will face South Africa for the first time since 2006, will be a new opponent on the field, but the Springbok Women have studied their performances in various tournaments.

"They are well coached and well drilled and will certainly be a tough opponent," he said. "I think the team that handles the soft moments in the game best, will be successful."

Springbok Women - 15 Jakkie Cilliers, 14 Alichia Arries, 13 Maceala Samboya, 12 Shiniqwa Lamprecht, 11 Maria Tshiremba, 10 Byrhandre Dolf, 9 Unam Tose, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Lerato Makua, 6 Sizophila Solontsi (captain), 5 Catha Jacobs, 4 Vainah Ubisi, 3 Xoliswa Khuzwayo, 2 Anushka Groenewald, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie.

Replacements: 16 Lindelwa Gwala, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Thandile Mazwi, 19 Danelle Lochner, 20 Logan Welman, 21 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 22 Anacadia Minnaar, 23 Mary Zulu.