Such is the nature (and cruelty) of international sport that only an improved performance by the Springbok Women against Italy on Sunday will give justice to their fine win over Brazil in the opening match of their 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign.
That is the view of the Springbok Women centre Zintle Mpupha as they prepare to face Italy in a crucial Pool D clash at the York Community Stadium in three days’ time.
“We started very well and we are happy that we did, but it will all fall flat on Sunday if we don’t repeat that type of performance,” said the 31-year-old midfielder.
“We did get the momentum needed, but it is also important to put that good win behind us as Italy will be a new challenge, one that we need to do this all over again.”
Italy’s abilities are well-known, with their last encouter less than a year ago resulting in a close win for the European side, but Mpupha feels that result can be overturned.
“This is the biggest game in our lives, if we get past Italy we will be in a strong position to qualify for the play-offs, which was what we came here for,” she said.
“They are a very skilled team with good attacking skills, but so are we. It is going to be a wonderful match to be involved in.
“Some of the tries we scored against Brazil were really well executed,” Mpupha added, crediting their excellent ball runners for those.
“We scored some nice tries – we have very balanced runners out wide and well as power runners closer to the pack and they combined nicely. It was great to play that kind of rugby in front of a good crowd at Northampton.
“The crowds have been great in the first round of matches and we cannot wait to go out there and experienced more of that here in York.”
Mpupha had an impressive outing at Franklin’s Gardens, making 148 metres with 14 ball carries, and completing 10 of her 11 tackles.
She noted with a smile the reaction the Springbok Women “Bomb Squad” evoked last weekend, saying that they had tagged onto the concept made popular by the Springboks.
“It is really great to have a whole bench of energy coming onto the field, it certainly provides the remaining players with a nice boost,” she reflected on the introduction of all eight finishers after 50 minutes of play against Brazil.
For Mpupha, who is South Africa’s leading try-scorer with 20 five-pointers in 27 Tests, the weekend could see an extention of that achievement. However, that is not where the focus is for her, but rather what she can do for the team.
“We have a new job at hand and this week was all about ourselves and how we prepared to be at our best come Sunday,” she said.
“Knowing that you represent your country, family and supporters is a massive boost and to combine that with clarity on the task at hand and a willingness to leave everything out there, gives me confidence for this very important match.”
Spooky Electric
Japan was the first Asian nation to reach the knockout stages of the Rugby World Cup – In 2019, Japan hosted the Rugby World Cup. Not only were they the first Asian nation to host they Rugby World Cup, they also shocked the world by beating Scotland to reach the knockout stages for the first time in history. Though they were eventually stopped by South Africa in the quarter-finals, they stole our hearts with the way they played. They also showed that taking rugby to new nations is the way forward to grow the game’s popularity.
Spicy Thunder
Sport Trivia: Who captained the South African 1992 Olympic squad? Answer: Oscar Chalupsky. Elana Meyer won silver in the 10000m in Barcelona. Malcolm Todd represented South Africa in archery, and Penny Heyns was the youngest member of the squad at just 17. Oscar Chalupsky is a rower/paddler and has been in the limelight in this arena since his first competition in 1979. He placed second in the Molokai World Surf Ski Championship in 2006, at the age of 43.