The Springbok Women booked their place in the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals following their 29-24 victory over Italy at the LNER Community Stadium in the United Kingdom.
For the second day in succession, the York Community Stadium threw up a RWC classic with the Springbok Women triumphing 29-24 over Italy in a thriller thanks to Sinazo Mcatshulwa’s try six minutes from time.
Scores from Aseza Hele, Nadine Roos, Ayanda Malinga and Sizophila Solontsi had twice put Swys De Bruin’s side in front but a valiant Italian side fought back on both occasions.
But in the end, it was the southern hemisphere outfit who prevailed, and the emotion was there for all to see from those in green come full-time as referee Ella Goldsmith’s whistle was met with wild celebrations.
With the game taking on the role of a quasi-knockout match, South Africa made a blistering start beneath the Yorkshire sunshine as they opened the scoring inside two minutes.
Right from Libbie Janse van Rensburg’s kick-off, the Springbok women put Italy under pressure, forcing the opposition to concede an early scrum.
And it was from that set piece in which South Africa pounced, as Bok No 8 Hele dribbled the ball forward from the base of the scrum before collecting and powering over the whitewash.
That early score sparked Italy into life and Alyssa D’Inca began to test the South African defence, but the Bok Women stood firm, as two superb tackles thwarted the wing’s progress on two separate occasions.
The game was stopped for several minutes on the 10-minute mark when Sara Tounesi remained down after an attempted chop tackle. Despite leaving the field on a stretcher, the Italy lock joined in with the round of applause she received which everyone inside the York Community Stadium was pleased to see.
South Africa threatened to extend their lead and were gifted a chance to do so on 16 minutes after Italy were penalised for a non-straight lineout.
From there, South Africa’s dominant pack won a penalty from the scrum which gave Janse van Rensburg the chance to drive her team further into Italy’s half. A rolling maul ensued and Lindelwa Gwala looked all set to score before the referee blew for obstruction.
But the team in green and gold weren’t to be denied and Janse van Rensburg’s sumptuous dummy opened up the Italian defence. With teammates either side of the Bok flyhalf, Roos was the player picked out to dot the ball down midway through the first half. Byrhandré Dolf added the extras to give her side a 12-0 lead.
Fabio Roselli’s team refused to lie down however and responded by scoring their first points of this year’s World Cup just four minutes later.
South Africa looked to have done enough to prevent their copybook from being blotted thanks to Roos’ heroic last-ditch tackle to stop Aura Muzzo, but Italy were able to continue their attack and Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi finished the move off.
The opening 40 minutes continued to ebb and flow as momentum shifted between both sides.
A South African scrum in the centre of the field initially didn’t present Italy with an immediate threat, but the only African representatives at England 2025 had other ideas.
The ball was moved quickly out wide before Roos darted through a gap in the Italian defence. The Bok fullback then offloaded brilliantly – timing her pass to perfection – to Malinga who capped off the thrilling team move.
A lapse in concentration from Dolf six minutes before half-time proved costly for the Springbok women as the wing drifted into touch when catching a hopeful Italian high ball.
The resultant lineout allowed Italy to bash themselves towards the South African tryline and hooker Vittoria Vecchini was able to crash over after good work from Silvia Turani in the build-up.
Having led 17-12 at the break, Italy regained parity in proceedings seven minutes into the second half through a cleverly worked lineout.
Vecchini’s throw found its way back to her via Francesca Sgorbini and the front rower duly drove towards the South African line. Sgorbini ably supported her teammate and was on hand to receive the ball back from Vecchini to confirm the game-levelling score.
Just like the pulsating 31-31 draw between USA and Australia on the same ground less than 24 hours before, it was clear another titanic tussle was unfolding.
South Africa edged back in front just before the hour mark as Solontsi burrowed over following a relentless spell of pressure. Dolf’s second conversion made it a seven-point game, but Italy once again dragged themselves back onto an even keel as Sara Seye’s converted try set up a grandstand finish.
This was a game that no team deserved to lose but Mcatshulwa’s late try made sure it was South Africa who claimed the spoils in front of the 6045-strong crowd.
Scorers:
Springbok Women 29 (17) – Tries: Aseza Hele, Nadine Roos, Ayanda Malinga, Sizophila Solontsi, Sinazo Mcatshulwa. Conversions: Byrhandré Dolf (2).
Italy 24 (12) – Tries: Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, Vittoria Vecchini, Francesca Sgorbini, Sara Seye. Conversions: Michela Sillari, Beatrice Rigoni.
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
