SA Sportswomen - Be Their Plus One

Springbok Women Headline SA Sports This Women's Month

By Koketso Mamabolo

It’s been a year of breakthroughs, valiant victories and bold statements in South African women’s sport. Gerda Steyn has proven she’s the true queen of the road. The Proteas left the West Indies with an ODI series win, Banyanya Banyanya lit up WAFCON with song and swagger, despite a disappointing exit. Dakota Ditcheva extended her perfect mixed-martial arts record under the lights in Cape Town.

Prudence Sekgodiso dominated at the World Indoor Championships, following in the steps of Caster Semenya who won a legal battle in Europe, instead of a race, which could reshape athletes’ rights. On TV, history has been made with the launch of Africa’s first 24/7 women’s sports channel on DStv, the All Women’s Sport Network (AWSN), promising thousands of hours of coverage a year, just before the Women’s Rugby World Cup arrives. In other words: if 2024 and 2025 will be looked back on as the start of a turning point for women’s sport in South Africa, the Springbok Women are arriving at their Rugby World Cup with the wind at their backs.

Back On The World Stage

The Bok Women claimed a spot in the tournament in England as African champions, winning the 2024 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup. They find themselves in Pool D against France, ranked 4th in the world, 7th ranked Italy and World Cup debutants Brazila draw which will demand a great deal of preparation and grit in equal measure.

France, whose warm-up games included a tough outing against the best in the world, England, will test the Springbok’s physicality and defensive systems. The goal is to beat Brazil, who have nothing to lose and will bring the fire and ambition of a debutant - which could be a recipe for disaster for veteran coach Swys de Bruin’s side who left the last World Cup without a win. Italy are an even tougher prospect, one the Springboks will be familiar with after going down 23 - 19 last year at WXV2 in Cape Town and who will make the goal of making the playoffs a difficult one to reach.

“We know it’ll be tough,” said scrumhalf Tayla Kinsey, who featured at the last World Cup, speaking with the Daily Maverick, “but I think with the game plans we have now and the different variations, everyone knows what they have to do for that game, because it is the one we’re looking to target.”

The warm-up games against Canada, ranked second in the world, tested the systems put in place by de Bruin and his assistants, giving the Springboks a taste of what to expect. Canada were clinical and had an edge over a Springbok side that has been trying to find its rhythm while experimenting, including trying utility back Nadine Roos at scrumhalf.

The Black Ferns XV, the second team of New Zealand’s women’s rugby programme - arguably the best talent producing programme in the world - showed their class in defeating the Boks in the first game but the second game resurgence will leave captain Nolusindiso Booi’s charges with some confidence going into the pool games.

“We needed this performance, we now have the knowledge and the belief that we are on the right track and will go to the Rugby World Cup in a good mental and physical space,” said tighthead prop and devastating ball-carrier Babalwa Latsha, who was captain on the day.

Chasing More Suns?

The progress in the South African women’s game is the culmination of four years of work. Besides the appointment of Swys de Bruin to guide the side, and develop coaches within the SA Rugby structures following the World Cup, there have been other passionate servants of the game who have laid a fantastic foundation.

Chief among them was Lynne Cantwell, a former Irish international and the architect of the revamped South African women’s programme. Cantwell, who has since left SA Rugby, scouted talent, built a provincial competition and now South African rugby is reaping the rewards, including a dominant Bulls Daisies side, the country’s only professional women’s outfit.

More than half of the squad heading to England have featured in at least one World Cup, led by veteran lock and captain Nolusindiso Booi, the nation’s most-capped international. She will be ably supported by Latsha, playmakers Libbie Janse van Rensburg and Nadine Roos, with Danielle Lochner, Sanelisiwe Charlie, Vainah Ubisi and Aseza Hele leading a pack that has shown great tenacity and features a great mix of youth and experience.

The pack will look to set a great platform from the high-flying Ayanda Malinga and ever-electric Byrhandré Dolf who can change the mood of the game with just one step.

The Women's Rugby's World Cup runs from 22 August to 27 September across eight cities in England with the final to be held at the hallowed grounds of Twickenham. For the Springboks, making it out of Pool D would be a break-through; a sign that we're moving to continental dominance to global contention. Women's sport in South Africa demands more - more coverage, more investment and more respect. Booi will lead that charge in her swansong, and hopefully return with major scalps to signal the arrival of the Bok Women.

Source: SuperSport | Daily Maverick | SA Rugby | World Rugby