Milestones for Booi and Samboya in Hermanus

Nolusindiso Booi will become the most-capped Springbok Women’s player yet when they take on Samoa in Hermanus on Saturday, while – at the other end of the scale – Maceala Samboya be will making her test debut for South Africa.

Booi has been named at lock for the clash against Manusina Samoa at Hermanus High School for what will be her 37th test – passing the 36-cap mark she shared with Zenay Jordaan – while the venue will also hold special memories for wing Samboya, who hails from Malmesbury and represented the Boland Dames in this year’s Women’s Premier Division.

Booi, who started her international career against Kazakhstan in 2010, has captained the Springbok Women 13 times since 2018 and is the only player in the squad that faced Samoa in a test match before, in 2014 when South Africa won by 25-24 in Paris.

Head coach Louis Koen again named Babalwa Latsha as captain for the match, with the tighthead prop one of 10 players who retain their places in the starting line-up from their 77-12 win over Kenya in Cape Town last month.

There are two changes in the backline. Samboya, who will play on the right wing, will make her first test start after running out in the recent warm-up matches against the San Clemente Rhinos and Barbarians, while scrumhalf Unam Tose, who played off the bench against Kenya, will swop with Rumandi Potgieter, who will finish the game in Hermanus.

Koen named a new lock pairing to start against the Samoans. Booi and Vainah Ubisi both played off the bench against Kenya, but they now swop jerseys with Sinazo Mcatshulwa and Danelle Lochner, who will both finish the game this time.

In the final change to the starting team, Asithandile Ntoyanto will start at loosehead prop, while Yonela Ngxingolo will