Final tweaks aside, a positive result will be massively important for the Springbok Women when they take on the Black Ferns XV at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, as this will be their final match before the Rugby World Cup starts in England next month.
They were caught napping at times and were outplayed at others, but the Springbok Women resumed their training on Monday with renewed energy as they prepare to take on New Zealand’s Black Ferns XV for a second time this weekend.
The Springbok Women took another positive step towards the Rugby World Cup in England as they recovered from being outplayed by New Zealand’s Black Ferns XV in the first half of their match at Athlone Stadium on Saturday, to “winning” the second half.
Springbok Women captain Nolusindiso Booi offers the Springbok Women the chance to showcase the growth of the team when they take on Canada at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as they move towards the Rugby World Cup in England next month.
The Springbok Women side to play Canada in Gqeberha on Saturday will have a distinct Eastern Cape flavour after Performance coach Swys de Bruin made several changes to his match-23 for the second Test against the North American side.
Growing up playing touch rugby with some boys in Pelican Street in Rosedale, Uitenhage taught Springbok Women fullback Byrhandrѐ Dolf how to step past bigger people, hence her dream to meet Cheslin Kolbe, who has perfected that art on the rugby field.
Springbok Women captain Nolusindiso Booi said her team will enter Loftus Versfeld with excitement and determination when they face Canada on Saturday, in the first Test between the two countries on South African soil.
Having played against most of the Canadian team on a regular basis in England, Springbok Women utility forward Catha Jacobs is in a good position to act as soundboard on her team’s opponents for Saturday’s Test in Pretoria.
Very few women's players – if anyone – have studied the Loftus Versfeld uprights with more intent in recent years that Springbok Women and Bulls Daisies kicking ace, Jakkie Cilliers.
The Springbok Women will face one of their toughest assignments in recent years when they take on Canada next month, with a squad of 26 players named to assemble in Johannesburg on Sunday for the first Test.