Springbok Women vs Ireland: Solontsi captains Boks as Latsha misses Cape Town Tests

With Babalwa Latsha injured, the Springbok Women will have a new captain and a reshaped front row when they face Ireland in Cape Town. Latsha, the regular captain and tighthead prop, misses both home Tests, and Sizophila Solontsi takes over the captaincy.

The match at Athlone Stadium on Saturday 24 October kicks off at 15:00 SAST. It is the first of two WXV Global Series Tests between the sides in the city, and tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster.

How the Bok scrum changes

Latsha's absence means changes at prop. Xoliswa Khuzwayo, who started at loosehead against Spain, crosses to tighthead. Sanelisiwe Charlie, rested for the Seville Test, comes back in the No 1 jersey.

Apart from the front row, the side that beat Spain earlier this month has one change. Maria Tshiremba takes the left wing from Patience Mokone. The win in Seville was the last match of a European tour that also took the Boks to Wales and Italy.

There is a milestone in reach on the bench. Prop Yonela Ngxingolo has 49 caps and, according to SuperSport, is set to follow Nolusindiso Booi as only the second Springbok Women player to reach 50 Tests. Thandile Mazwi joins the replacements as a prop in place of the injured Nombuyekezo Mdliki. Anacadia Minnaar, who did not go on the European tour, is also named among the replacements.

Jones reaches 50 for Ireland

Ireland also have a milestone to mark. Gloucester-Hartpury's Neve Jones starts at hooker and will win her 50th Ireland cap.

Erin King captains the visitors from openside flanker. Brittany Hogan starts at No 8 in place of the injured Aoife Wafer. Stacey Flood is back at full-back instead of Niamh Gallagher, and Dorothy Wall returns at lock to partner Jane Clohessy.

Ireland opened their WXV campaign with a defeat by the United States and then beat Japan in Galway. They beat Japan again, 43-19, in a Test outside WXV in Cork on Saturday 3 October.

Franzel September expects a hard game. "They are well coached and well drilled and will certainly be a tough opponent," she said, adding: "I think the team that handles the soft moments in the game best, will be successful."

The two sides have met only once before, at the 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup in Canada, when Ireland won 37-0. The second Test of the series is also in Cape Town, on Saturday 31 October. There is more on the series in our Springboks news, and the full schedule is on our rugby fixtures page.