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WXV 2: Final round team news as Rollie to win 70th cap in title decider
The destination of the WXV 2 2024 title will be decided at the end of the third and final round this weekend.
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Australia head into their final match against Scotland on Saturday (kick-off 17:00 local time, GMT+2) knowing they will be crowned champions if they avoid defeat.
Yet, a bonus-point victory for Scotland would ensure the 2023 winners retain their title and there is also a scenario in which hosts South Africa can finish top of the second-level standings.
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To have any chance of becoming champions, the Springbok Women must beat Italy with a bonus point in Saturday’s opening match (14:00 local time).
On Friday, meanwhile, Wales meet Japan (kick-off 16:00 local time) with the loser guaranteed to finish bottom of the standings. Regardless of their results, Wales, Australia, Scotland and Italy will qualify for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 at the completion of their matches.
You can watch all the action live and for free via RugbyPass TV, where there isn’t a local broadcast deal in place.
Get all the team news for the final round of WXV 2 matches below as and when it drops.
Wales v Japan
Ioan Cunningham has made three changes to the Wales starting line-up for their final round assignment in Cape Town.
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Sisilia Tuipulotu comes into the front row for her first start of the tournament, while Abbie Fleming is selected in the second row. Donna Rose and Georgia Evans drop to the bench.
In the backs, Kayleigh Powell is handed the number 10 jersey in place of Lleucu George, whose campaign was ended by a knee injury picked up late in last week’s defeat to Italy.
Robyn Wilkins, who only arrived in South Africa on Tuesday, has been named among the replacements.
Meanwhile, Japan head coach Lesley McKenzie has made two changes to the side the lost narrowly to Scotland last weekend.
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Hooker Kotomi Taniguchi returns to the front row, swapping jersey numbers with Asuka Kuge who drops to the bench.
And the only other change comes in the backs, where Misaki Matsumura starts on the right wing in place of Rinka Matsuda, who drops out of the squad altogether.
There is, though, a return to the matchday 23 for forward Kyoko Hosokawa, who is named among the replacements with Sakurako Korai dropping out.
Wales: 15. Jasmine Joyce, 14. Carys Cox, 13. Hannah Jones (captain), 12. Hannah Bluck, 11. Nel Metcalfe, 10. Kayleigh Powell, 9. Keira Bevan, 1. Gwenllian Pyrs, 2. Carys Phillips, 3. Sisilia Tuipulotu, 4. Natalia John, 5. Abbie Fleming, 6. Alisha Butchers, 7. Allex Callender, 8. Bethan Lewis.
Replacements: 16. Molly Reardon, 17. Maisie Davies, 18. Donna Rose, 19. Georgia Evans, 20. Kate Williams, 21. Sian Jones, 22. Robyn Wilkins, 23. Courtney Keight.
Japan: 15. Sora Nishimura, 14. Misaki Matsumura, 13. Mana Furuta, 12. Haruka Hirotsu, 11. Komachi Imakugi, 10. Ayasa Otsuka, 9. Moe Tsukui, 1. Sachiko Kato, 2. Kotomi Taniguchi, 3. Wako Kitano, 4. Yuna Sato, 5. Otoka Yoshimura, 6. Masami Kawamura, 7. Iroha Nagata (captain), 8. Seina Sato.
Replacements: 16. Asuka Kuge, 17. Manami Mine, 18. Nijiho Nagata, 19. Kyoko Hosokawa, 20. Jennifer Nduka, 21. Megumi Abe, 22. Minori Yamamoto, 23. Kanako Kobayashi.
South Africa v Italy
Swys de Bruin has made seven changes to the South Africa side to face Italy on Saturday.
Loosehead prop Yonela Nxingolo and hooker Lindelwa Gwala come into the front row where the experienced duo line up alongside Babalwa Latsha for the first time since July 2022.
Meanwhile, captain Nolusindiso Booi returns to the second row and there are starts in the back row for Catha Jacobs and Sizophila Solontsi.
In the backs, Tayla Kinsey is recalled at scrum-half, while Nomawethu Mabenge is selected on the right wing in place of Jakkie Cilliers, who has been ruled out through injury.
Uncapped prop Nombuyekezo Mdliki will make her Test debut if called upon from the bench.
Azzurre coach Giovanni Raineri has made three personnel changes to the team that started last Friday’s narrow defeat of Wales.
Two of those come in the back row where flankers Beatrice Veronese and Alissa Ranuccini start either side of Francesca Sgorbini, who has moved to No8 in the absence of Elisa Giordano.
Scrum-half Sofia Stefan takes on the captaincy and is partnered by the returning Veronica Madia at fly-half.
South Africa: 15. Eloise Webb, 14. Nomawethu Mabenge, 13. Zintle Mpupha, 12. Chumisa Qawe, 11. Ayanda Malinga, 10. Nadine Roos, 9. Tayla Kinsey, 1. Yonela Nxingolo, 2. Lindelwa Gwala, 3. Babalwa Latsha, 4. Nolusindiso Booi (captain), 5. Vainah Ubisi, 6. Lusanda Dumke, 7. Catha Jacobs, 8. Sizophila Solontsi.
Replacements: 16. Micke Gunter, 17. Sanelisiwe Charlie, 18. Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19. Danelle Lochner, 20. Sinazo Mcatshulwa, 21. Aseza Hele, 22. Unam Tose, 23. Byrhandre Dolf.
Italy: 15. Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14. Aura Muzzo, 13. Michela Sillari, 12. Beatrice Rigoni, 11. Francesca Granzotto, 10. Veronica Madia, 9. Sofia Stefan (captain), 1. Silvia Turani, 2. Vittoria Vecchini, 3. Sara Seye, 4. Valeria Fedrighi, 5. Giordana Duca, 6. Beatrice Veronese, 7. Alissa Ranuccini, 8. Francesca Sgorbini.
Replacements: 16. Laura Gurioli, 17. Emmanuela Stecca, 18. Gaia Maris, 19. Alessandra Frangipani, 20. Elena Errichiello, 21. Emma Stevanin, 22. Sara Mannini, 23. Beatrice Capomaggi.
Australia v Scotland
Wallaroos flanker Ashley Marsters will become the most-capped Australian woman having been named as part of an unchanged starting XV for the finale.
Marsters is set to make her 34th Test appearance on Saturday, putting her one clear of former captain Liz Patu.
Centre Trilleen Pomare will draw level with Patu on 33 caps if called upon from the bench, while captain Michaela Leonard is one appearance further back.
The only change to the matchday squad that secured a 33-26 win against South Africa last weekend comes on the bench, where replacement props Sally Fuesaina and Alapeta Ngauamo come in for Lydia Kavoa and Allana Sikimeti.
Bryan Easson has made seven changes to Scotland’s starting XV ahead of the must-win encounter.
Tighthead prop Elliann Clarke comes into the front row while Eva Donaldson is named in the second row and openside flanker Rachel McLachlan and No8 Evie Gallagher both return.
In the backs, Leia Brebner-Holden is preferred to Caity Mattinson at scrum-half, while Emma Orr returns at outside centre and Coreen Grant is selected on the right wing.
Meanwhile, two players look set to reach memorable milestones in Cape Town as full-back Chloe Rollie wins her 70th cap and replacement prop Christine Belisle her 40th if called upon from the bench.
Defending champions Scotland have never beaten Australia in three previous attempts, so must create history in Cape Town if they are to retain the title.
Australia: 15. Caitlyn Halse, 14. Maya Stewart, 13. Georgina Friedrichs, 12. Cecilia Smith, 11. Desiree Miller, 10. Faitala Moleka, 9. Layne Morgan, 1. Bridie O’Gorman, 2. Tania Naden, 3. Eva Karpani, 4. Kaitlan Leaney, 5. Michaela Leonard (captain), 6. Siokapesi Palu, 7. Ashley Marsters, 8. Tabua Tuinakauvadra.
Replacements: 16. Tiarna Molloy, 17. Sally Fuesaina, 18. Alapeta Ngauamo, 19. Atasi Lafai, 20. Lucy Dinnen, 21. Samantha Wood, 22. Trilleen Pomare, 23. Lori Cramer.
Scotland: 15. Chloe Rollie, 14. Coreen Grant, 13. Emma Orr, 12. Lisa Thomson, 11. Francesca McGhie, 10. Helen Nelson, 9. Leia Brebner-Holden, 1. Leah Bartlett, 2. Lana Skeldon, 3. Elliann Clarke, 4. Eva Donaldson, 5. Sarah Bonar, 6. Rachel Malcolm (captain), 7. Rachel McLachlan, 8. Evie Gallagher.
Replacements: 16. Elis Martin, 17. Anne Young, 18. Christine Belisle, 19. Louise McMillan, 20. Jade Konkel, 21. Caity Mattinson, 22. Meryl Smith, 23. Lucia Scott.
I don't see George at 10 as a loss, though she does kick the odd 50:22. Powell will do just as well and is more mobile.