Springbok Women demonstrate their growing potential with victory over Barbarians

Nadine Roos of Springbok Women tackled by Kendra Cocksedge of the Barbarians during the match between Springbok Women and Barbarians at DHL Stadium on September 07, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)

By Keanan Hemmonsbey

9 Sep 2024

SA Rugby has committed to helping the Bok Women improve, and the early signs are there that the team could become a threat.

The Springbok Women rampaged to a convincing 59-17 victory over the Barbarians on Saturday at DHL Stadium right before the Springboks prevailed 18-12 over the All Blacks.

The Bok Women have dominated on the continent for an extended period, having won every edition of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup, dating back to 2019. It’s against wider international opposition that the side has struggled.

But a concerted effort by SA Rugby to help improve the Springbok Women has seen the team quickly exhibit their potential.

Last month SA Rugby employed former Springbok consultant and Lions coach Swys de Bruin, as well as former Junior Boks coach Bafana Nhleko, to head up the Women’s side.

The experienced coaching duo’s expertise has come to the fore in almost no time with the Bok Women looking like a brand new outfit since the coaching rejig.

Springbok Women captain Nolusindiso Booi fends off an attempted tackle by Joanna Kitlinksi of the Barbarians. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)

The Springbok Women played with a clear identity and within a well-coached structure on attack and defence to outscore the Barbarians nine tries to three.

“I’m absolutely satisfied with how we went about our attack,” said Bok Women’s assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt.

“That was something new we implemented in our game plan and the girls executed it.

“We put enough emphasis on it as well as our defence, hence the result.”

For context, last year the Barbarians beat South Africa 38-26 at Athlone Stadium, and they beat the Bok Women 60-5 at Twickenham in 2021.

“The South African team was just too good on the day,” head coach of the Barbarians, Linda Itunu, said after the match. “I just want to give them credit for the stuff they’re doing right now with their programme.

“The investment that’s being put into the game is the product of what we saw out there (on Saturday).”

The next step

Saru’s objectives for the 12th-ranked Bok Women include seeing the team rise to within the top eight in the World Rugby rankings.

South Africa will have a chance to begin climbing up the rankings with a good showing at the second edition of the WXV 2 tournament that kicks off later this month in Cape Town and Stellenbosch.

There they will meet Japan, Australia, Italy, Wales and Scotland — all teams ranked above them.

“The best is yet to come,” said Johannes-Haupt.

“It’s a great foundation that we laid down. Next one is Spain (19 September) and then we’re into the tournament (WXV2), and that’s where we ultimately want to showcase all our plans.”

The Bok Women's Nadine Roos is tackled by Kendra Cocksedge of the Barbarians at DHL Stadium. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)

The early signs are there that the Springbok Women are capable of springing a surprise or two in WXV 2.

Against the Barbarians the team resorted to strengths generally associated with South African rugby, such as dominating up front and using the set-piece to gain ascendancy.

It worked a treat as South Africa’s forwards laid the foundation for their first three tries off the back from attacking lineouts.

It allowed the attack-minded backs acres of space, which they capitalised on with flyhalf Nadine Roos orchestrating the attack brilliantly, as well as grabbing an opportunistic try at the death.

“That was massive for the South African women,” Barbarians skipper on the day, Charmaine McMenamin, said. “I’m so happy they gave us a hiding.

“They probably don’t get a lot of funding, and that just shows what they can do. If they have backing, imagine what they can do, the possibilities are endless.” DM

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The next step