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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Springbok Women came within a converted try – in the dying minutes of their WXV2 match against Australia – of recording one of their greatest results yet.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bok Women went down 33-26 but were camped on Australia’s tryline, clawing their way towards the whitewash before Aussie flanker Ashley Marsters pulled off a brilliant breakdown turnover.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It ends an incredible run of victories by the Springbok Women that includes the Barbarians, Spain and Japan — the latter coming last week in their opening WXV2 clash.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the score sheet stating a loss to Australia, the performance and result against such a formidable side speaks to the vast improvements the Boks have recently made.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I’m so, so proud of them,” Bok Women performance coach </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-26-swys-de-bruin-back-on-the-horse-ready-to-spark-excitement-over-springbok-women/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swys de Bruin</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> said after the match. “The guts they showed…</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We have played Australia three times in the past and never managed to score a try against them.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We scored four today and were held up for a fifth, which is not bad against a side that could easily have been playing in the WXV1 tournament right now.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It was a performance that leaves us with good pointers on where to improve and we learnt that you have to be clinical against the top sides in the world.”</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2398197\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2271187-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Bok women\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1764\" /> <em>Bok Vainah Ubisi tries to break through the tackle of Aussie fullback Caitlyn Halse. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>Slow start</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bok Women started off slowly, conceding an early 14-0 lead after Australia scored two quick tries.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second try was set up by a break, through winger Maya Stewart who found herself in acres of space due to poor defensive shape by the Springboks, who found themselves a player short on the outside.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It would happen a few more times in the match, with wingers Stewart and Desiree Miller getting on the score sheet in the second half in the same fashion.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">De Bruin, though, put it down to individual mistakes on the field instead of the defensive system in place.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Yes, we came up short with that (wide defence) today,” he said. “But that was individual errors rather than the system lacking.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“A player missing a tackle cannot be the fault of the defence coach, for example, and we missed too many on the flanks, allowing their speedy wings to score very impressive tries.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At 33-12 down with fewer than 10 minutes to play, the writing seemed on the wall for the Springbok Women, but they fought back excellently with their own “bomb squad”.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2398209\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2271035-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1813\" /> <em>Siya Kolisi and Bok Women performance coach Swys de Bruin during the WXV2 match against Australia at Athlone Stadium. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2398208\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2271149-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1840\" /> <em>Bok men’s captain Siya Kolisi (bucket hat) was on hand to support the Bok Women during their WXV2 match against Australia. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two quick tries – by hard-running outside centre Zintle Mpupha and replacement hooker Micke Gunter off the back of a driving maul – within five minutes of each other meant the hosts had a chance of a miraculous draw.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It wasn’t to be, however, despite centimetres separating the team from history.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“They really showed tremendous guts out there and that made me very, very proud,” De Bruin said.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2398195\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2271186-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1855\" /> <em>Aussie wing Maya Stewart is tackled by South Africa's Eloise Webb during their WXV2 clash at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on 5 October 2024. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“They just refused to accept defeat and the fact that we came a metre short of squaring the match showed the determination.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more: </b><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-22-bok-women-look-to-use-wxv-2-as-foundation-for-world-cup-run/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bok Women look to use WXV 2 as a foundation with an eye on World Cup</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We were literally a pass away from that final try after being seemingly down and out with 15 minutes to play.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Much credit must go to the players, who just refused to lie down.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">De Bruin, however, was not too dejected about the result, having only taken over the reins two months ago.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We have a saying in our team – ‘what happens to us, happens for us’,” the coach said. “If it was meant to be, we would have scored there at the end.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa take on Italy next Saturday at Athlone Stadium in their final outing in this year’s WXV2 competition. </span><b>DM</b>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Springbok Women came within a converted try – in the dying minutes of their WXV2 match against Australia – of recording one of their greatest results yet.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bok Women went down 33-26 but were camped on Australia’s tryline, clawing their way towards the whitewash before Aussie flanker Ashley Marsters pulled off a brilliant breakdown turnover.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It ends an incredible run of victories by the Springbok Women that includes the Barbarians, Spain and Japan — the latter coming last week in their opening WXV2 clash.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the score sheet stating a loss to Australia, the performance and result against such a formidable side speaks to the vast improvements the Boks have recently made.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I’m so, so proud of them,” Bok Women performance coach </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-26-swys-de-bruin-back-on-the-horse-ready-to-spark-excitement-over-springbok-women/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swys de Bruin</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> said after the match. “The guts they showed…</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We have played Australia three times in the past and never managed to score a try against them.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We scored four today and were held up for a fifth, which is not bad against a side that could easily have been playing in the WXV1 tournament right now.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It was a performance that leaves us with good pointers on where to improve and we learnt that you have to be clinical against the top sides in the world.”</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2398197\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2398197\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2271187-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Bok women\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1764\" /> <em>Bok Vainah Ubisi tries to break through the tackle of Aussie fullback Caitlyn Halse. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>Slow start</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bok Women started off slowly, conceding an early 14-0 lead after Australia scored two quick tries.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second try was set up by a break, through winger Maya Stewart who found herself in acres of space due to poor defensive shape by the Springboks, who found themselves a player short on the outside.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It would happen a few more times in the match, with wingers Stewart and Desiree Miller getting on the score sheet in the second half in the same fashion.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">De Bruin, though, put it down to individual mistakes on the field instead of the defensive system in place.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Yes, we came up short with that (wide defence) today,” he said. “But that was individual errors rather than the system lacking.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“A player missing a tackle cannot be the fault of the defence coach, for example, and we missed too many on the flanks, allowing their speedy wings to score very impressive tries.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At 33-12 down with fewer than 10 minutes to play, the writing seemed on the wall for the Springbok Women, but they fought back excellently with their own “bomb squad”.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2398209\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2398209\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2271035-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1813\" /> <em>Siya Kolisi and Bok Women performance coach Swys de Bruin during the WXV2 match against Australia at Athlone Stadium. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2398208\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2398208\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2271149-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1840\" /> <em>Bok men’s captain Siya Kolisi (bucket hat) was on hand to support the Bok Women during their WXV2 match against Australia. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two quick tries – by hard-running outside centre Zintle Mpupha and replacement hooker Micke Gunter off the back of a driving maul – within five minutes of each other meant the hosts had a chance of a miraculous draw.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It wasn’t to be, however, despite centimetres separating the team from history.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“They really showed tremendous guts out there and that made me very, very proud,” De Bruin said.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2398195\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2398195\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2271186-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1855\" /> <em>Aussie wing Maya Stewart is tackled by South Africa's Eloise Webb during their WXV2 clash at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on 5 October 2024. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“They just refused to accept defeat and the fact that we came a metre short of squaring the match showed the determination.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more: </b><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-22-bok-women-look-to-use-wxv-2-as-foundation-for-world-cup-run/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bok Women look to use WXV 2 as a foundation with an eye on World Cup</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We were literally a pass away from that final try after being seemingly down and out with 15 minutes to play.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Much credit must go to the players, who just refused to lie down.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">De Bruin, however, was not too dejected about the result, having only taken over the reins two months ago.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We have a saying in our team – ‘what happens to us, happens for us’,” the coach said. “If it was meant to be, we would have scored there at the end.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa take on Italy next Saturday at Athlone Stadium in their final outing in this year’s WXV2 competition. </span><b>DM</b>",
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Bok Vainah Ubisi tries to break through the tackle of Aussie fullback Caitlyn Halse. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)
Siya Kolisi and Bok Women performance coach Swys de Bruin during the WXV2 match against Australia at Athlone Stadium. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)
Bok men’s captain Siya Kolisi (bucket hat) was on hand to support the Bok Women during their WXV2 match against Australia. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)
Aussie wing Maya Stewart is tackled by South Africa's Eloise Webb during their WXV2 clash at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on 5 October 2024. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)