At the age of 22, life was good for Lerato Makua. In 2023, she had established herself in the Springbok Women squad, playing in 10 Tests and two friendlies and representing South Africa in Wales, England, Japan, New Zealand and Madagascar, and later France.
It was a hot and humid night in Kumagaya when Ayanda Malinga last faced Japan, but the memory of that special Test 26 months ago still fuels the Springbok Women winger.
Ayanda Malinga will make a return to Test rugby for the first time since 2022 after being named on the left wing for the Springbok Women’s opening match of WXV 2 against Japan at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Friday.
Argentina are set to play Wales in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after they beat Japan 39-27 in a thrilling encounter in Nantes on Sunday.
Japan put on a dominant performance to defeat Chile 42-12 in their opening Rugby World Cup clash at the Stadium de Toulouse on Sunday.
Germany salvaged a 1-1 draw in a mouth-watering clash against Spain, while Belgium suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at the hands of Morocco on Sunday.
Japan came from behind to secure a shock 2-1 win over Germany while Spain ran riot over Costa Rica after hammering them 7-0 in their World Cup opener on Wednesday.
Germany winger Leroy Sane has been ruled out of his side's opening World Cup encounter against Japan with a knee injury.
The new-look European Tour will make its first foray into the lucrative Japan golf market in 2022 after adding the ISPS Handa Championship to next year’s recently announced schedule.
African nations Ivory Coast and Egypt sealed their spot in the last eight at the Olympics, while South Africa crashed out with three defeats after a 3-0 loss against Mexico on Wednesday.