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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Springbok Women suffered their second successive WXV2 defeat in their final match of the tournament, going down 23-19 to Italy at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The narrow defeat follows a 33-26 loss to Australia – overall champions of the WXV2 competition – last Saturday at the same venue.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While those defeats are disappointing, especially considering their thrilling 31-24 win in the opening match of the tournament against Japan, it does signal a sharp turn in performances by the side.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before the WXV2 tournament the team played two warm-up Tests, which they won, against Spain (36-19) and the Barbarians (59-17), which signalled the start of performance consultant Swys de Bruin’s tenure.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The five games that we played, we won three and lost two,” De Bruin said, reflecting on his past two months at the helm.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“If you take the scoreboard away, I see a lot of growth. We’ve never, ever beaten Italy or even come close. It was really a coin toss at the end there and we could’ve scored and it would have been a glorious victory.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The growth from this team, if I look at how they settled into the defence and attack systems, it pleases my heart. We didn’t get the result but I’m so proud of them. That fight that never ever stops.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“That is it. I’m proud and there’s definite progress. The results will come if we keep on doing what we’re doing.”</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2408869\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2275180.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1818\" height=\"1170\" /> <em>Nadine Roos during the WXV2 match against Italy at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on 12 October 2024. (Photo: Roger Sedres / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2408868\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2268638.jpg\" alt=\"Bok women\" width=\"1172\" height=\"1710\" /> <em>Springbok Women coach Swys de Bruin at a field training session at Hamilton Rugby Club in Cape Town on 1 October 2024. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>Conditioning</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa scored three well-worked tries against Italy, with the best of the lot being a counterattack try sparked by flyhalf Nadine Roos from her own 22m and finished by flying winger Ayanda Malinga.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But the Azzurri hit back with three of their own and also kicked two penalties, capitalising on slips of discipline by the home side who also suffered yellow cards to replacement scrumhalf Unam Tose and inside centre Chumisa Qawe for dangerous tackles.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But the aspect of their game De Bruin sees as the major work-on is their physical conditioning.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Firstly, we need to up our physical conditioning much, much more,” he emphasised after the match. “When the game gets faster and the [opposition] ups the tempo, we leave a lot of gaps and we can’t get there.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We are a scrumming team, a mauling team, so that’s one department the ladies know, heading into the World Cup; our strength and conditioning will have to improve immensely.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Secondly, we as coaching staff need to get used to how they officiate games as well. If the referee says ‘use it No 9’ (in the scrum), I’m not used to it because you have the ascendency in the scrum.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The defeat to Italy means South Africa finished this year’s WXV2 on eight points, the same number as the Italians but one place below them in fourth due to an inferior points differential. South Africa picked up four bonus points, more than any other team in WXV2.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scotland finished second with nine points while Japan, who lost all three of their games, made up the rear of the table, with Wales in fifth with five points.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2408866\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2276151.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1799\" height=\"1154\" /> <em>Nadine Roos is tackled by Aura Muzzo and Emma Stevanin of Italy during their WXV2 clash in Cape Town on 12 October 2024. (Photo: Roger Sedres / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2408864\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2276139.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1733\" height=\"1156\" /> <em>Nomawethu Mabenge on the charge against Italy on 12 October 2024. (Photo: Roger Sedres / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>World Cup goals</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since starting his journey as leader of the Bok Women ship,</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;\">De Bruin has maintained that the ultimate goal</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the team is to have a successful World Cup campaign with the team in England next year.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We can certainly improve in certain areas and fine-tune other aspects of our play,” De Bruin said. “There are very strong principles in this team that are in place already, but we are getting bogged down by others that are not good.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We will have to be much better in those and the next couple of months and into next year the focus will be about that so that [we] will be a more complete team when we are playing international rugby again in April.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I am confident that this group can go on and make the country proud next year, providing that we work really hard in the next 11 months before we are off to England.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The players will return to their respective unions now before a camp in December, their next national commitment. </span><b>DM</b>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Springbok Women suffered their second successive WXV2 defeat in their final match of the tournament, going down 23-19 to Italy at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The narrow defeat follows a 33-26 loss to Australia – overall champions of the WXV2 competition – last Saturday at the same venue.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While those defeats are disappointing, especially considering their thrilling 31-24 win in the opening match of the tournament against Japan, it does signal a sharp turn in performances by the side.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before the WXV2 tournament the team played two warm-up Tests, which they won, against Spain (36-19) and the Barbarians (59-17), which signalled the start of performance consultant Swys de Bruin’s tenure.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The five games that we played, we won three and lost two,” De Bruin said, reflecting on his past two months at the helm.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“If you take the scoreboard away, I see a lot of growth. We’ve never, ever beaten Italy or even come close. It was really a coin toss at the end there and we could’ve scored and it would have been a glorious victory.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The growth from this team, if I look at how they settled into the defence and attack systems, it pleases my heart. We didn’t get the result but I’m so proud of them. That fight that never ever stops.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“That is it. I’m proud and there’s definite progress. The results will come if we keep on doing what we’re doing.”</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2408869\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1818\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2408869\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2275180.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1818\" height=\"1170\" /> <em>Nadine Roos during the WXV2 match against Italy at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on 12 October 2024. (Photo: Roger Sedres / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2408868\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1172\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2408868\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2268638.jpg\" alt=\"Bok women\" width=\"1172\" height=\"1710\" /> <em>Springbok Women coach Swys de Bruin at a field training session at Hamilton Rugby Club in Cape Town on 1 October 2024. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>Conditioning</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa scored three well-worked tries against Italy, with the best of the lot being a counterattack try sparked by flyhalf Nadine Roos from her own 22m and finished by flying winger Ayanda Malinga.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But the Azzurri hit back with three of their own and also kicked two penalties, capitalising on slips of discipline by the home side who also suffered yellow cards to replacement scrumhalf Unam Tose and inside centre Chumisa Qawe for dangerous tackles.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But the aspect of their game De Bruin sees as the major work-on is their physical conditioning.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Firstly, we need to up our physical conditioning much, much more,” he emphasised after the match. “When the game gets faster and the [opposition] ups the tempo, we leave a lot of gaps and we can’t get there.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We are a scrumming team, a mauling team, so that’s one department the ladies know, heading into the World Cup; our strength and conditioning will have to improve immensely.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Secondly, we as coaching staff need to get used to how they officiate games as well. If the referee says ‘use it No 9’ (in the scrum), I’m not used to it because you have the ascendency in the scrum.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The defeat to Italy means South Africa finished this year’s WXV2 on eight points, the same number as the Italians but one place below them in fourth due to an inferior points differential. South Africa picked up four bonus points, more than any other team in WXV2.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scotland finished second with nine points while Japan, who lost all three of their games, made up the rear of the table, with Wales in fifth with five points.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2408866\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1799\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2408866\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2276151.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1799\" height=\"1154\" /> <em>Nadine Roos is tackled by Aura Muzzo and Emma Stevanin of Italy during their WXV2 clash in Cape Town on 12 October 2024. (Photo: Roger Sedres / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2408864\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1733\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2408864\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2276139.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1733\" height=\"1156\" /> <em>Nomawethu Mabenge on the charge against Italy on 12 October 2024. (Photo: Roger Sedres / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>World Cup goals</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since starting his journey as leader of the Bok Women ship,</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;\">De Bruin has maintained that the ultimate goal</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the team is to have a successful World Cup campaign with the team in England next year.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We can certainly improve in certain areas and fine-tune other aspects of our play,” De Bruin said. “There are very strong principles in this team that are in place already, but we are getting bogged down by others that are not good.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We will have to be much better in those and the next couple of months and into next year the focus will be about that so that [we] will be a more complete team when we are playing international rugby again in April.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I am confident that this group can go on and make the country proud next year, providing that we work really hard in the next 11 months before we are off to England.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The players will return to their respective unions now before a camp in December, their next national commitment. </span><b>DM</b>",
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Nadine Roos during the WXV2 match against Italy at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on 12 October 2024. (Photo: Roger Sedres / Gallo Images)
Springbok Women coach Swys de Bruin at a field training session at Hamilton Rugby Club in Cape Town on 1 October 2024. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)
Nadine Roos is tackled by Aura Muzzo and Emma Stevanin of Italy during their WXV2 clash in Cape Town on 12 October 2024. (Photo: Roger Sedres / Gallo Images)
Nomawethu Mabenge on the charge against Italy on 12 October 2024. (Photo: Roger Sedres / Gallo Images)