Springbok Women performance coach Swys de Bruin applauded the effort of his squad after they outplayed Japan to start their 2024 WXV 2 campaign on a winning note at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Friday, 27 September 2024.
South Africa won 31-24 and De Bruin said the second half effort on defence, especially when Japan was attacking from all corners of stadium, showed how determined the players were to start the tournament with a win.
“Since we came together, we got the better of the Barbarians, then Spain proved a handful and today Japan was very good, nut the fact that we could keep them out and win tells you that we are moving in the right direction.”
Springbok Women Captain, Nolusindiso Booi
“I’ll be the first to admit that we played some underwhelming rugby in patches, but we still did enough to win against a very good and organised Japanese side,” said De Bruin.
“They really got the best out of us defensively today. We did butcher some tries while on attack and some basic errors were not helping either, but overall, I am very proud of the team.”
De Bruin said the leadership of Nolusindiso Booi, who extended her record as most capped player to 47 Tests, was exceptional, while he also tipped his hat to his fellow coaches. Laurian Johannes-Haupt, Franzel September and Bafana Nhleko.
“We have only been together five weeks,” said de Bruin, “So there are still so much to do, but the fact that we could pull this one off and, in the process, improve on our world ranking, tells you a lot already.”
De Bruin’s side moved past Japan on the world ranking with the win and are now looking at a top-10 position, with Tests against Australia and Italy to follow over the next two weeks.
“We have the Rugby World Cup in mind and as such, will be a work in progress for a while still,” said De Bruin.
“That said, the wins are also very important and to get the victory today is good for our momentum and confidence. Our defensive effort was close to 90%, but playing to our potential was much lower.”
Booi said the defensive effort was needed as Japan came hard and fast and tested them relentlessly.
Booi also praised the crowd who came out to enjoy the tournament opener: “It was great, this was a good crowd who came to watch us, and we want to thank them for doing so. We are of course very happy that we could reward them with a win, but it was hard work as Japan was not an easy opponent.”
The Springbok Women will next face Australia at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, 5 October 2024 in their second WXV 2 match.
Springbok Women 36 – 19 Japan
Springbok Women 31 (17) – Tries: Aseza Hele, Chumisa Qawe, Sanelisiwe Charlie, Ayanda Malinga, Vainah Ubisi
Conversions: Jakkie Cilliers (3)
Japan 24 (12) – Tries: Kotomi Taniguchi, Ayasa Otsuka, Seina Saito (2)
Conversions: Otsuka, Misaki Matsumura
Springbok Women XV vs Japan in Cape Town on Friday, 27 September, 2024
15. Libbie Janse van Rensburg (Bulls Daisies)
14. Jakkie Cilliers (Bulls Daisies)
13. Eloise Webb (Border Ladies)
12. Chumisa Qawe (Bulls Daisies)
11. Ayanda Malinga (Bulls Daisies)
10. Nadine Roos (unattached)
9. Tayla Kinsey (Sharks Women)
8. Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames)
7. Sinazo Mcatshulwa (DHL Western Province)
6. Sizophila Solontsi (Bulls Daisies)
5. Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daisies)
4. Nolusindiso Booi (captain, DHL Western Province)
3. Babalwa Latsha (Harlequins Women)
2. Lindelwa Gwala (Ealing Trailfinders Women)
1. Sanelisiwe Charlie (Bulls Daisies)
Replacements
16. Micke Gunter (Bulls Daisies)
17. Yonela Ngxingolo (Bulls Daisies)
18. Azisa Mkiva (DHL Western Province)
19. Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women)
20. Catha Jacobs (Leicester Tigers Women)
21. Anathi Qolo (Bulls Daisies)
22. Unam Tose (Bulls Daisies)
23. Zintle Mpupha (Bulls Daisies)
Fixtures and Results of the 2024 World Rugby Women’s WXV 2 Tournament in Cape Town
Friday, 27 September: South Africa 31-24 Japan (DHL Stadium)
Saturday, 28 September – 12h30: Australia v Wales (DHL Stadium)
Saturday, 28 September – 16h00: Italy v Scotland (DHL Stadium)
Saturday, 5 October -12h30: Wales v Italy (Athlone Stadium)
Saturday, 5 October -14h00: Japan v Scotland (Athlone Stadium)
Saturday, 5 October -17h00: South Africa v Australia (Athlone Stadium)
Friday, 11 October – 16h00: Wales v Japan (Athlone Stadium)
Saturday, 12 October – 14h00: South Africa v Italy (Athlone Stadium)
Saturday, 12 October, 17:00: Australia v Scotland (Athlone Stadium)
Pre-WXV Match Schedule at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town
Saturday 7 September: Springbok Women 59 – 17 Barbarians
Thursday, 19 September: Springbok Women 36 – 19 Spain
WXV 2 Schedule 2024 from 27 September to 13 October
Round 1: Friday 27 – Sun 29 September
Round 2: Friday 4 – Sun 6 October
Round 3: Friday 11 – Sun 13 October
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: The Women Boks resumed their lead in the second half with a try by Vainah Ubisi, and Jakkie Cilliers to convert for a 31-24 advantage. Both Springbok Women captain Nolusindiso Booi and coach Swys de Bruin lauded the results of a team on song following their world-ranking improving opening WXV-2 tie against Japan in Cape Town on Friday, 27 September, 2024. Photo: SA Rugby / Gallo Images
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