Review: Boks in Canada

Anyone hearing SA Women’s Rugby coach David Dobela comments would believe he’s relatively pleased with the result against England.

Said Dobela, “Our defence has improved greatly from last week, and we now go into our last game with Ireland full of confidence and excited about the possibility of a win.”

The fact is that after a second hammering in the IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup, South Africa is last on the log, and still without a point in the championship.

If the match-end statistics are the only measure of the teams success, that phrase is a way off from being appropriate.

If one rates the team on merit however, a different story emerges.

South Africa was ranked 11th out of the 12 teams participating at the outset, and have already encountered England, one of the IRB Women’s stalwart teams, and Australia, a rising power in the women’s game.

Though having conceded 142 points in two games, South Africa has managed to clock up 20 points, including two tries against the sternest of opposition

On a ‘points-for’ basis, SA currently stands equal with Samoa, and above Spain (0) and Ireland (11), the Boks’ next competition, who have had easier progress, if not against France, then against the United States.

Following their game against SA, England coach Geoff Richards said: “The South Africans were greatly improved from where they were last year.”

Some may even believe that IRB rugby writer Tom Burwell’s comments on the spirit of the girls’ play is more instructive than the outcome of the game, something of little doubt prior to the encounter.

Burwell writes: “South Africa had a Marijke Nel penalty on the board, and were rewarded for the passion and pride the Women’s RWC newcomers showed when their pack gained some momentum to drive flanker Wendy Khumalo over for their only try.

South Africa wing Yolanda Meiring after the game: “We really make up for our inexperience on the field with our fitness and our skill.

“We may be a junior to some of the other teams’ game at home, but we have a very young side who will be a real handful in the future, especially in 2010.”

This bodes well for the Boks, debutant team to this world event, when they take on Ireland in their next game, on Friday.

Whether Irish coach Phillip Doyle was making hay or not, his comment may need some good old fashioned South African redress.

"[The] South Africans are there for the taking, let’s hope for some of that famous Irish luck."

There is little doubt that those supporting our women’s team in Canada will eagerly anticipate the outcome of that more evenly-matched game, and will measure the rise of the Women’s Springboks as they progress from this tournament a better side.