In an exciting turn of events, Ayanda Malinga is set to make her return to Test rugby after a two-year hiatus.
She has been named to play on the left wing for the Springbok Women in their opening match of the WXV 2 tournament against Japan, taking place this Friday at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
Understanding the WXV 2 Tournament
So, what exactly is WXV 2? It’s a second-tier international competition featuring six teams.
This year, Cape Town will once again be the host city, with matches scheduled over three weekends: September 27, October 5, and October 12.
The teams competing in WXV 2 include the Springbok Women (South Africa), Japan, Australia, Italy, Scotland, and Wales, all battling it out in a cross-pool format.
An important aspect of the tournament is that the team finishing in sixth place will be relegated to WXV 3.
Meanwhile, WXV 1 will take place in Canada, and WXV 3 is set to return to Dubai.
Springbok Women’s Lineup Updates
Malinga’s last appearance in Test rugby dates back to August 2022, when she scored two tries against Spain at Ellis Park.
Since then, she has been part of the Springbok Women’s Sevens squad, showcasing her skills at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town and during the HSBC SVNS season in 2023/24.
The Springbok Women’s performance coach, Swys de Bruin, has made two adjustments to the starting lineup that recently triumphed over Spain.
Malinga will step in for the injured Shaunique Hess, while experienced prop Babalwa Latsha will switch places with Azisa Mkiva, who will now start on the bench.
The bench also includes Micke Gunter, Anathi Qolo, and Unam Tose, featuring a total of six forwards, with Tose and Zintle Mpupha being the only backs among the substitutes.
Match Day Details
The highly anticipated match between the Springbok Women and Japan is set to kick off WXV 2 at 16:00 on Friday.
Fans can look forward to more action the following day, with two additional matches at the DHL Stadium: Australia facing Wales at 12:30 and Italy taking on Scotland at 15:00.
What are you looking forward to in this exciting tournament?