The Springbok Women left Stade Makis in Antananarivo with smiles on their faces on Wednesday afternoon, knowing that much was gained from their gutsy victory over Kenya in the second round of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Madagascar.
That is the view of Bok Women assistant coach Franzel September, who said the hard-fought encounter, which South Africa won by 19-12, ticked many boxes for the team, and they are pleased with their second consecutive win in the 2025 edition of the tournament.
“Hats off to our ladies, they stayed in the fight,” said September.
“We knew the match against Kenya was going to be tough, especially as they had their renowned sevens players back in their team.
“We had a clear plan to play in their half and trust our defence, and that was executed nicely and worked for us today, so we are pleased with the outcome.”
While there were some perplexing calls by the officials, September said the team adjusted accordingly: “Yes, we had to adjust to the officiating, but other than that, it was a good outing for us.
“Some of our players needed proper game time and we got 60-70 minutes out of them, while some of the younger players got a taste of what Test rugby really is all about, a hard graft for 80 minutes.”
The Rugby World Cup contenders had to show why they are in the mix for the world showpiece in a few months’ time: “We needed those minutes in the legs of some of our players who are in Rugby World Cup contention and got that, so it was a big win for us in that regard.”
September said the team’s defensive effort laid the foundation of their win.
“We take pride in our defence and we did not let ourselves down,” he said.
“It meant a lot for us to win today. It was important to take this match on its own merits and we will enjoy the win. It is two down and two wins, so we are still on track.”
The Springbok Women will face hosts Madagascar on Sunday before returning home on Monday.
1st degree
The Rugby World Cup has showcased some of the most memorable moments in rugby history. One such moment occurred during the 1995 tournament in South Africa when Jonah Lomu, a powerful New Zealand winger, steamrolled over England’s Mike Catt on his way to scoring a try. Lomu’s performance in that match remains an iconic moment in the sport.
Nessie
While Ireland has yet to win the Rugby World Cup, they have consistently reached the quarter-finals stage in several editions of the tournament. This demonstrates the strength and determination of the Irish rugby team, as they continue to strive for success and aim to make a deeper run in future World Cup competitions.