Latest news with #BokWomen
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Physicality pays off: Springbok Women's shift in tactics delivers
Springbok Women flyhalf Libbie Janse van Rensburg takes on the Black Ferns defence. Photo: Henk Kruger Independent Media Image: Henk Kruger Independent Media Performance coach Swys de Bruin admitted that a shift in the Springbok Women's approach after half-time bore fruit as they came close to a come-from-behind win against the Black Ferns XV at Athlone Stadium on Saturday. South Africa were more direct and physical in the second half, keeping the ball tight and employing crash-ball tactics after being outplayed in the opening 40 minutes. 'We simply did not get going in the first half, but I have to give credit to the team for the way they adapted in the second half, where we created numerous chances,' De Bruin said after the 34–26 defeat to the New Zealanders, who led 20–12 at the break. 'If we did not have one of our tries disallowed at a crucial stage in the second half, who knows what could have happened at the end.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Powering up The Bok defence conceded four tries in the first half and only two in the second, with the South Africans gaining momentum through a more confrontational approach and the impact of a strong bench. 'We made a call at half-time to change our approach and play more direct, and that worked for us tonight,' said De Bruin. 'It was a night where we needed physicality and the shortest route forward, and we almost managed to turn the result around, something that I am very pleased about. It is all part of the learning curve as we head to the Rugby World Cup next month. 'We had some combinations that worked earlier in the season, like in the match against Spain where we scored several backline tries. But tonight we needed physical ball-carriers, and those combinations were better suited against a very skilful Black Ferns XV.' Swys de Bruin: 'We made a call at half-time to change our approach and play more direct, and that worked for us' - more here: 🗣#BokWomen #MakeItCount — SA Women's Rugby (@WomenBoks) July 26, 2025 Leading from the front One of those who embraced the change in tactics was captain and No 8 Babalwa Latsha, who scored one of the Bok Women's four tries. She said the players were comfortable with a more forward-driven strategy. 'We don't mind that at all – we are good in close-range rugby where we can use our physicality,' said Latsha. 'But the Black Ferns deserve credit as they showed good skills on a windy afternoon, and they really used their scoring opportunities well. Not so much for us – we created a lot of chances but didn't take them all, and that will again be a work-on for us this week.' It remains to be seen whether the Springboks will stick with the direct strategy when the sides meet again at the same venue next weekend – their final official outing before the World Cup. 'We wanted these games to see what we need to do better or where we are doing well, so next weekend will be that final test for the team and the combinations,' said De Bruin. 'I am very proud of our effort in that second half and the clarity that gave the coaching staff.'
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Springbok Women run Black Ferns XV close in narrow defeat at Athlone Stadium
Powerful No 8 Aseza Hele scored two tries for the Springbok Women against the Black Ferns XV on Saturday. Image: Henk Kuger/Independent Newspapers The Springbok Women suffered a narrow 34-26 loss against the Blacks Ferns XV in the first of two international friendlies at a windy Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday evening. The half-time score was 20-15. There was a strong early scrum by the Bok Women, who tried to show their power, but the Black Ferns spread the ball wide quickly off their feed and fullback Mererangi Paul scored in the right corner with the Boks short of defensive numbers in the second minute. Lock Anathi Qolo came close to a quick reply for SA, but had no support with the tryline beckoning. The Bok scrum continued to put the squeeze on their opponents and they eventually won a penalty after the 10th minute. Handling errors in broken play proved costly for the South African women, however. In fact, both teams struggled in the blustery conditions. The Bok tight five shoved the Black Ferns off the ball in a scrum and won a penalty in the following passage of play that they put into touch close to the Black Ferns try line. The Springbok Women get their reward 🙌 Cilliers gets the conversion to reduce the margin to eight 🎯 📺 Stream #RSAvNZL on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 26, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Bok No 8 Aseza Hele charged over the line after the Black Ferns struggled to cope with a rolling maul from the lineout for the Bok Women's first points of the match. Wing Jakkie Cillers added the two points with the conversion and the Bok Women were 7-5 in front A chip and chase by the Black Ferns left the Bok defence at sixes and sevens and Vaina Ubisi was shown yellow for a desperate try-saving tackle from an offside position close to the line after 20 minutes. The Black Ferns spread the ball through the hands to the right wing from the resultant tap penalty and Kelsey Teneti sauntered in for the try. King again missed the conversion attempt. A floated Libbie Janse van Rensburg pass deep in Bok territory was then gobbled up by Black Ferns wing Jaymie Kolose who scored their third try. Hela again responded for the Springbok Women off a rolling maul in the 31st minute to bring the home team within three points at 15-12. Bok Women's coach Swys de Bruin would have been worried by the amount of space on the home side's flanks. When outside centre Eloise Webb was also shown yellow in the 37th minute for an intentional knock-on, they were again punished out wide. Teneti was again the scorer. An obstruction in the build-up denied the visitors another try after the hooter. The Bok Women were also unlucky not to score a try of their own after a number of attacking phases. Trailing at the break, but far from done. A big second half coming from the #BokWomen 🔥#MakeItCount — SA Women's Rugby (@WomenBoks) July 26, 2025 Webb returned from the sin bin. The Bok scrum continued to cause problems for the visitors' pack. But the defensive steel was lacking minutes later when Hollyrae Mete-Renata barged over the line despite the attentions of a number of Bok defenders. Replacement flyhalf Kaea Nepia kicked the first conversion of the match for the Black Ferns. When Teneti pounced on the loose ball to complete her hat-trick moments later, the Bok Women were in deep trouble. The SA forwards continued to provide front-foot ball, however, and skipper Babalwa Latsha drove over for a well-deserved try after sustained Springbok pressure after the 50th minute. Cilliers added the two points. Latsha grew in stature as the Bok Women started to make the hard yards. Fired-up centre Chumisa Qawe was also hitting the line hard. Yet the visitors held firm. The penalty count was mounting in favour of the home side and a yellow for Maama Vaipulu in the 64th minute gave the SA side a potential way back into the match. Bok subsitute Nombuyekezo Mdliki thought she had scored two minutes later after a number of phases of attacking play, but it was ruled out for obstruction in the build-up. They hammered away at the Black Ferns defensive line, with Nadine Roos shifted from fullback to scrumhalf. But handling errors and poor decision making cost the SA side once again with time running out. The Bok Women threw everything at the Black Ferns with less than three minutes to go, and the charging Mdliki would not be denied this time. They continued to press but could not add to the scoreline. Points scorers Springbok Women 26 Tries: Hele (2), Latsha, Mdliki; Conversions: Cilliers (3) Black Ferns XV 34 Tries: Paul, Teneti (3), Kolosi, Mete-Renata; Conversions: Nepia (2)
IOL News
4 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Springbok Women taking lessons to heart despite expensive school fees
Springbok Women's captain Babalwa Latsha wants to see an improvement in their game when they take on New Zealand at Athlone Stadium. Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Media The Springbok Women's team would have taken a lot of lessons from the defeats they suffered in the two-Test series against Canada. School fees for those lessons were quite expensive, as the South Africans suffered 50-20 and 33-5 hammerings at the hands of the second-ranked Canadians in Pretoria and Gqeberha respectively. But it was the best eye opener ahead of next month's Women's Rugby World Cup in England. Now, ahead of two matches against New Zealand's Black Ferns XV in Cape Town, it's time to learn from the mistakes and implement the lessons learned. The Bok Women have come a long way over the last 18 months, but the gap between themselves and the top rugby nations is still wide. They are ranked 12th in the world, and are 20 ranking points behind New Zealand, who are currently ranked third in the world. Top-ranked England are 29 points ahead of the Bok Women. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The positive aspect is that the Bok Women are aware of their shortcomings and have embraced the lessons learned. The focus now is to improve with each passing game, and use it every minute to get better and to give themselves a chance to be competitive at the global showpiece event. Forward Babalwa Latsha, who will lead South Africa on Saturday against the New Zealanders at Athlone Stadium (5pm kickoff), says they want to sharpen their arsenal for next month's Rugby World Cup. The experienced prop said they will be keen for more improvements around the breakdown and set piece. 'The Rugby World Cup is just 30 days away and we are using this opportunity to fine tune our game, as we will do again next weekend,' Latsha said. 'We worked hard on areas such as the breakdown in order to improve in that aspect of play and that will be a focus area for us tomorrow again. 'The two matches against Canada provided us with valuable learnings and the next two against this very capable Black Ferns XV will do so again.' The Women Boks have been boosted by the return of star lock Vainah Ubisi, who makes a welcome return from injury to the green and gold, having last played for the Springbok Women in last year's WXV 2 tournament at the same venue. The Bulls Daisies' second-rowwer Ubisi is a dynamic player, with a massive presence at lineout time and a top ball-carrier. She will certainly add some much-needed grunt and skill to the Women Boks' forward effort, especially at set-piece time. Latsha said although their set piece worked well against Canada, they are looking for more improvement on Saturday. 'There is no doubt that the Black Ferns XV will test us, they are a very skilful team with a number of very experienced players in key positions, but to be honest, for us this match will be about ourselves and what we want to achieve,' Latsha added. For Latsha, returning to Athlone Stadium is also a treat. In the last two seasons, the Bok Women played at the Cape Town venue in WXV 2. 'Yes, the stadium has now almost become a home base for us,' she said. 'I think it is fair to say that we have managed to build up a support base out there and I hope and believe that the crowds will come out again this weekend to come and support us. We would love nothing more to feed off the energy from the crowd, so I really hope they come in numbers.'
Daily Maverick
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Bok Women's World Cup preparations boosted by Vainah Ubisi comeback for Black Ferns clash
Towering lock Vainah Ubisi returns to the Bok Women fold for her first appearance in green and gold this year as the team prepare to face the Black Ferns XV with the Rugby World Cup a month away. The Springbok Women take on the Black Ferns XV on Saturday at Athlone Stadium with an eye on their World Cup preparation. The Women's Rugby World Cup — which will take place in England — is less than a month away and the Springbok Women have been handed the timely return of star lock, 22-year-old Vainah Ubisi. Ubisi missed a large chunk of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury she suffered last year, and was then operated on at the start of the year. Her appearance against the Black Ferns XV — the second New Zealand side — will be her first in the Green and Gold this year as she lines up alongside Anathi Qolo in the second row in a much-changed Bok Women side from the one that took on Canada across the start of July. Qolo and Ubisi replace regular captain Nolusindiso Booi and Danelle Lochner who started against Canada in Gqeberha. The 22-year-old tighthead lock was a breakout star for the Women's Boks last year, collecting four Player of the Match awards in 2024, being crowned the MyPlayers Women's Players' Player of the Year award as well as being nominated for South African Women's Player of the Year, beaten by Nadine Roos. 'It's been a big boost having Vainah back,' Springbok assistant coach Franzel September said on Thursday. 'I'm quite excited for her.' The thought of representing South Africa at the World Cup is what kept the rampaging lock going throughout her extended rehabilitation process, with the sole thought floating around her head being the quadrennial tournament. 'When I got injured last year that's what was in my mind — if I'm going to make it to the World Cup squad, if I'm going to be back in time,' Ubisi said at the pre-match press conference on Thursday. 'I did my rehab in Stellenbosch, so while I was there, the team coming in and me being around the team, I think that actually eased me a little bit. It was not easy being alone, doing rehab alone. It was tough. But I'm just grateful that I'm back and I was able to be back in time.' Rotating squad The locks aren't the only change with Swys de Bruin and his coaching team deciding to test out and continue their pattern of trying out new combinations despite South Africa's opening World Cup match, against Brazil, being exactly one month away. 'It's building for the World Cup,' September explained as the reason for the chopping and changing in the squad. 'Canada, Africa Cup, now Black Ferns, it's all part of World Cup preparation. 'We're trying some new combinations or some different combinations as we did in the Canada Test matches.' Those changes in combinations have been made with the halfbacks as well, with Tayla Kinsey and Libbie Janse van Rensburg starting at nine and 10. Roos and Eloise Webb played those positions in the second match against Canada but have been shifted to their more regular positions of fullback and outside centre, respectively. Tighthead prop Babalwa Latsha will captain the side as one of only six players to wear the same starting jersey as they did against Canada in Gqeberha. 'We wanted to make sure that everyone in the assembled group gets game time, while we also have the luxury of another match next weekend, where those with niggles can get a run as well,' said De Bruin. Captain Booi, Lochner, Sizophila Solontsi, Byrhandré Dolf and Ayanda Malinga are all recovering from niggles following the Test at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. 'We have made good strides this far and we are improving,' De Bruin said. 'The Black Ferns XV will be tough opponents, but that is why we wanted them here. 'We don't play against the top sides enough, so like we were against Canada, we will be tested in numerous areas of the game. The coaching staff are keen to see how this group of players respond to the challenges that the New Zealand side will bring.' DM The match starts at 5pm on Saturday at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.
The South African
17-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Bok Women ask SA to be their #PlusOne for RWC '25
With the Rugby World Cup in England kicking off in less than a month, the Bok Women have invited South Africans to join them on their journey and to become their '+1'. This call to arms was unveiled by SA Rugby on Wednesday, with the #PlusOne campaign aiming to rally the nation behind the Bok Women in a nationwide movement designed to celebrate their progress, ignite national pride, and unite South Africans in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup 2025 in England. The campaign invites every South African to play a part in the team's pursuit of excellence, not just as spectators, but as daily sources of encouragement, belief, and momentum created by the rallying cry: 'Follow Our Journey. Be Our +1'. The #PlusOne campaign celebrates the power of small steps with big impact: one extra repetition in the gym; one more tackle; one more metre with ball in hand; one extra supporter; one better day than the last. Together, these steps build legacy and every South African is invited on the journey with the Bok Women, a team forged in grit and part of a nation bound by progress. Bok Women captain Nolusindiso Booi said they are fully synced to the call. 'We are not new to a challenge,' she said. 'For a long time, we fought for visibility and opportunity. Now, we have that and with the country backing us, we know we go out there with the full weight of the nation behind us. 'Whether you're a young girl dreaming big on a dusty pitch somewhere in a rural area like I did, or a father watching proudly from your couch, whether you're a lifelong rugby fan or cheering us on for the very first time, you are part of this movement, and we would love you to become our #PlusOne .' Follow the Bok Women's journey at @WomenBoks (on Instagram and X), @SAWomensRugby (on Facebook), and (on TikTok), and show your support using the hashtag #PlusOne . No matter where you are – your belief fuels their next step. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE BOK WOMEN BY Leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
