“Coach Koen Selects 14 Players from Previous Test Match for National Team’s Current Lineup”
Xoliswa Khuzwayo, a prop, and Anathi Qolo, who plays as a No 8, will be making their first starts in the pack, while Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen, also a prop, and Samantha Els, a utility forward, have been named among the substitutes for this upcoming match. This fixture will also mark a milestone for Bok Women captain Nolusindiso Booi, who will extend her Test cap record to 41 appearances in the green and gold jersey.
Coach Koen, who assumed leadership of the national team a year ago during a similar tour to Spain, has included 14 players who were part of the last Test match between the two countries, which took place in Madrid on 1 April 2023. South Africa emerged victorious with a scoreline of 35-20.
“It is always gratifying to introduce new players to the team, and in this instance, three of them came very close to selection in last year’s WXV 2 tournament. Xoliswa, Aliyah, and Samantha narrowly missed out on the final squad, while Anathi has displayed remarkable progress since joining our alignment camps in December, January, and February,” commented Koen.
Khuzwayo, Tchogna-Njamen, and Els previously featured for the Bok Women in a warm-up match against San Clemento Rhinos in Cape Town in September last year. Qolo, on the other hand, showcased her talent as a standout player in the Bulls Daisies team, which maintained a flawless record in last year’s Women’s Premier Division.
