‘Minding Their Own Business’

The Springbok Women are simply just “minding their own business” and there is a clear focus on what they want to achieve in their opening WXV 2 clash against Japan at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Friday.

That was the assessment of Springbok Women assistant coach Franzel September after the squad had a productive training session at Hamilton RFC in Green Point on Monday morning.

“Mondays are important for us as coaches, as we use these sessions for clarity and to install new plays or additions to our structures,” September explained.

“It was a good session as we prepare for Japan, not because of the opponent, but on what we want to achieve come Friday.”

The Springbok Women played two matches at DHL Stadium in as many weeks and September, who also coaches the lineouts, said good patterns have been established in those encounters.

“The main focus of those two matches was to get our game going,” he said.

“We have our style of rugby and how we want to play it, and this week will be all about getting it right in order to execute against Japan. We want to start this WXV tournament well and will be ready on Friday.”

September said the Japanese are well respected for their disciplined and measured approach to the game, but that the South Africans are only focused on themselves and what they want to achieve from the Test.

“As a coaching staff, we are excited about the game and to get the tournament underway and if we can get the crowds in, that will help as well,” said September, thanking the supporters who made the effort to come and watch the Springbok Women, and adding that he hoped even more fans will flock to the stadium at 16h00 on Friday.

“We will have home ground advantage and want to play a game that will make our supporters and South Africa proud.”

The tournament squad has been boosted by the availability of Lusanda Dumke, one of the stalwarts over the last couple of seasons. The experienced flanker was a try-scorer for the Bok Women in last year’s 33-7 win over Samoa in their final WXV 2 match.

“It was a huge relief to be cleared by the medical team as I desperately wanted to play in this tournament,” said Dumke.

“In fact, that was my big goal at the beginning of the season, to be in the best shape of my life when WXV came around.

“Things were going really well, but then I picked up that foot injury in the final of the Women’s Premier Division and I lost some momentum because of that. But my rehab has been great, and I am just grateful that I could make it in time. This is such a great tournament to be part of and I cannot wait to play my part.”

The team to take on Japan will be announced today.