It took two days of travel and a few more to rest and recover, but once the Springbok Women went into Test mode in Suva on Monday, it was business as usual, as the main thing must always remain the main thing, according to the team’s experienced flyhalf and vice-captain, Libbie Janse van Rensburg.
The Bok Women returned to the training ground on Monday, following a tough trip to Fiji, while they also had to adjust to the 10 hour time difference in the Pacific.
South Africa face the Fijiana XV at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on Saturday for a historic first Test on Fijian soil and according to Janse van Rensburg, they need to be at their best.
“We all know how Fiji play – they are a very physical team, but so are we,” said Janse van Rensburg.
“They have an unpredictability as well, but they will be right there in our faces, so we need to front up, something we will not shy away from.”
According to Janse van Rensburg, that mindset was clear from their first team session on Monday: “We had a day or two off after the long travel and that was great, but this morning, in that first session, we switched into rugby mode. The main thing is now the main thing, and that is a Test match to win on Saturday. We are all clear about that.”
She said that while this is a historic trip for the Bok Women, their goals for the two Tests will not change: “This was by far the longest trip we had for a Test match, but it is all part of the bigger picture, which is to prepare ourselves for the rest of the season firstly, but also the lead-up to the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2028. It is great to be part of history, but this is a new chapter for us.”
Janse van Rensburg said the fact that some experienced players and regular starters, who are following a conditioning programme back in South Africa, did not make the trip takes nothing away from the commitment of the group in Suva.
“It is a great opportunity for those who are coming into the squad to show that they belong,” she said.
“It is also a good test for our depth, and I honestly believe this will show that we have that in our women’s game back home. For those who will be playing this weekend and are not regulars, this should be a great opportunity to nail down a more permanent spot.”
The leading points’ scorer in the Springbok Women jumper also has her own ambitions in the series. Janse van Rensburg is in line to make her 33rd Test appearance in which she has scored 219 points (consisting of four tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalty goals, and one drop goal) and she wants to use that experience to benefit the team.
“I am hoping to fulfil my role in the team to the best of my abilities, to be the general and playmaker I need to be at flyhalf, but also to make sure we stay in our system and plan for the test match,” said Janse van Rensburg.
Without giving too much away on their approach for the weekend, Janse van Rensburg said the two Tests against the USA last month, where they won in Johannesburg but lost in Pretoria a week later, provided good lessons.
“We did not play well at the breakdown in the second Test and paid the price, it was as simple as that,” she said.
“On Saturday, that will be a key area for us if we want to achieve success. We need to be better if we want to win here. Those work-ons will also stand us in good stead when we play the Black Ferns and in the WXV Global Series later in the season.”
The match-23 to face Fiji will be announced on Wednesday.
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