Springbok Women plan to cook up a storm against Black Ferns at home of the Gatsby
Image: Conray Swail
Athlone is the home of Cape Town's famous Gatsby, a takeaway dish loved by many.
A Cape Town Gatsby is a no-frills sandwich, a French loaf stuffed with slap chips, meat, salads and sauce — designed for sharing between two or more people.
On Saturday, the Springbok Women want to dish up something similar — not only to satisfy the appetite for perfection from the coaching staff, but also for their loyal supporters at Athlone Stadium, when they take on the Black Ferns XV in their second international friendly.
The visitors won last weekend's clash 34–26, but Babalwa Latsha, who will again lead the Bok Women out, said too many chefs spoiled the broth for the home side on that occasion.
'This time, we're going to keep it simple and focus on getting the small things right first. We need to be physical, but we also need to be clever and productive when we have possession,' said Latsha, the most-capped prop in Springbok Women's history.
Latsha added that there are many reasons why the team wants to leave the stadium on Saturday night content and happy.
'This is indeed our final chance before the World Cup later this month. Up to this point, our coaches have given us all the ingredients to make the perfect dish.
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'We know our set piece is working well — it showed last weekend — we have good commitment when under pressure, and we play with guts. But something was still amiss.
'We worked hard this week to fine-tune the nuances of our game, and I think we're ready to deliver that final performance that will leave us all prepared for the biggest tournament of our lives.'
Latsha predicted that the Bok Women's mindset, combined with the class of their opponents, would lead to another humdinger.
'They are such a skilful team and a joy to watch when you're on the sidelines,' she said.
'I think we proved that we can play a bit as well last weekend — and what a game that was. I suspect we're going to see more of the same again. It will be a match of high intensity, huge physicality, and amazing action.
'This is the perfect way to complete our local season, and how special would it be if we have the same energy and crowds tomorrow. Tickets are only R20, but the value of entertainment will far exceed that — guaranteed.'
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