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Springboks Women team named for Black Ferns showdown as SA Rugby confirms Swys de Bruin decision SA Rugby have confirmed the departure of Springboks Women’s head coach Swys de Bruin ahead of the clash against the Black Ferns. Reports emerged on Thursday that De Bruin had resigned from his position with immediate effect amid a dispute over a winning bonus that he felt he was entitled to. The highly respected coach was on a contract that ran through to the 2029 Rugby World Cup, a deal he signed after guiding the national team to their maiden knockout match. However, De Bruin has taken the decision to step down from the role ahead of the match against New Zealand, which serves as a curtain-raiser for the third Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test match between the Springboks and All Blacks. SA Rugby confirmed the decision in a statement announcing the matchday 23 before the fixture with a brief blurb, which read: “Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September, who led the team to success in Kenya and Fiji earlier this year, will continue to act as co-head coaches of the Springbok Women’s team following the decision by Swys de Bruin to step down from the role.” The union add that no further comment would be made in the meantime in order to allow the team to focus on this weekend’s fixture. Team news Tighthead prop Babalwa Latsha will lead the Springbok Women team at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg which will be the first meeting between the two teams on local soil. Latsha is of six players in the pack that started against the Black Ferns just under a year ago in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England. Vainah Ubisi and Catha Jacobs were on the bench in that fixture, which New Zealand won 46- 17, and they replace Nolusindiso Booi (retired) and Sinazo Mcatshulwa (injured) in the starting team this weekend. Latsha, Sanelisiwe Charlie and Lindelwa Gwala will again form the front-row, Ubisi will lock up with Danelle Locher in the engine room, and Jacobs will slot in with Sizo Solontsi and Aseza Hele in the back-row. Unam Tose and Libbie Janse van Rensburg are the starting half-backs this weekend with Aphiwe Ngwevu and Zintle Mpupha combining in the centres. Byrhandré Dolf is named at full-back with wingers Alichia Arries and Ayanda Malinga completing the run-on team. Flyover ditched for third Springboks v All Blacks Test after viral Cape Town stunt “We have managed to build some extra depth since that match earlier this season when we played in the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and the two series against the USA Eagles Women and Fijiana,” said Johannes-Haupt, who co-coaches the team this week with September. “We believe this is the right squad for this game, and we go to FNB Stadium with a very specific game plan in mind. Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust. “We have certain characteristics as Springbok Women and that include being very physical in our first phase, so there is no reason to move away from that. We are aware of what the Black Ferns will bring, but selected this group because we want to play a certain way, not in reaction to who might be in their team.” Top 10 full-backs in rugby: Springboks star in ‘form of his life’ ahead of ‘competitive animal’ South Africa v New Zealand teams South Africa: 15 Byrhandré Dolf, 14 Alichia Arries, 13 Zintle Mpupha, 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 11 Ayanda Malinga, 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Unam Tose, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Catha Jacobs, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Danelle Lochner, 4 Vainah Ubisi, 3 Babalwa Latsha (c), 2 Lindelwa Gwala, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie Replacements: 16 Anushka Groenewald, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19 Nomsa Mokwai, 20 Shiniqwa Lamprecht, 21 Logan Welman, 22 Anacadia Minnaar, 23 Maceala Samboya New Zealand: 15 Braxton Sorensen-McGee, 14 Mererangi Paul, 13 Amy Du Plessis, 12 Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i ‘Sylvia’ Brunt, 11 Ayesha Leti-I’iga, 10 Hannah King, 9 Maia Joseph, 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 7 Elinor-Plum King, 6 Mia Anderson, 5 Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, 4 Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 3 Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, 2 Georgia Ponsonby (cc), 1 Chryss Viliko Replacements: 16 Atlanta Lolohea, 17 Maddison Robinson, 18 Santo Taumata, 19 Laura Bayfield, 20 Amarante Sititi, 21 Tara Turner, 22 Ruahei Demant (cc), 23 Justine McGregor Date: Saturday, 5 September 2026 Venue: FNB Stadium, Johannesburg Kick-off: 13:30 (local SAST), 12:30 (UK), 13:30 (France), 13:30 (South Africa), 21:30 (AEST), 23:30 (New Zealand), 08:30 (Argentina), 20:30 (JST), 07:30 (EDT) Referee: Zoe Naude (SARU) Assistant Referees: Giana Viljoen (SARU) and Angie Bezuidenhout (SARU) TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU) Broadcasters: SuperSport (South Africa / Africa), Sky Sport (New Zealand), Stan Sport (Australia), Sky Sports (United Kingdom & Ireland)