The Springbok Women secured their first ever win on Italian soil with a superb 41-29 victory over Italy at the Stadio Omero Tognon in Pordenone, Italy on Saturday, 26 September 2026.
A week after the 50-19 defeat to Wales in Cardiff, the Bok Women went back to what makes them strong, scoring six tries to four against a side ranked three places higher in the world rankings on the back of a ruthless set piece and superb driving mauls.
The Italians were out of the blocks first when Alyssa D’Incà scored in the corner, but Anushka Groenewald replied 10 minutes in after two very strong lineout drives in the Italian 22, with Jakkie Cilliers converting for a 7-5 lead. Four minutes later Byrhandré Dolf ghosted through the defence, and Cilliers added the extras to make it 14-5.
Groenewald scored her second just before the half-hour mark from a sublime 20m maul, the lineout won off a massive tackle by Alichia Arries, and three minutes later Maria Tshiremba gathered Libbie Janse van Rensburg’s deft chip kick and sped away for her fifth try in only three Tests. A maul try by Vittoria Vecchini on the stroke of half-time, converted by Michela Sillari, cut the lead to 24-12 at the break.
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The opening 20 minutes of the second half belonged to the host team. South Africa lost Yonela Ngxingolo to the sin bin and Italy responded with converted tries by D’Incà and Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, to a penalty goal by Cilliers, before Sillari nailed a penalty to give the hosts a 29-27 lead with 15 minutes to go.
It was short-lived. Micke Gunter was driven over from a tap penalty, Cilliers converting for 34-29, and after a try-saving cover tackle by Maceala Samboya and a lineout steal, Logan Welman crashed over from the back of a strong scrum to seal a famous victory on the road.
Springbok Women co-head coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September lauded the ruthlessness of their set piece.
“We were very strong in our set piece today, with our lineout drives in particular a very potent weapon.”
Springbok Women Co-Coach, Laurian Johannes-Haupt
“The biggest mistake we made in Wales last weekend was to allow them to get a grip on our lineout drives and a lot of focus this week was to make sure we are clinical in those areas. We were and the result proves that.”
September said the Bok Women controlled the flow of the match and used their possession very well.
“Some of our mauling was the best I have seen in a while, and we could use our lineouts as a proper base to launch our attacks. Our kicking game also worked well, and that forced Italy to play a lot of their rugby from inside their half, where our defence was really strong.”
Sizophila Solontsi, one of the co-captains on the day, said they left nothing on the field.
“We were not going to be beaten today. Credit to Italy who also played with a lot of heart and even took the lead with 15 minutes left, but we stayed connected as a group and fought back till we won the match.”
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Both flyhalves, Janse van Rensburg and Dolf, picked up injuries during the game and will be assessed in the coming days. Their medical reports will influence any decisions on potential replacements for the last week in Spain.
The Springbok Women WXV Global Series European Tour from 18 September to 4 October 2026
Fri 18 Sept: Wales 50-19 South Africa (Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff)
Sat 26 Sept: Italy 29-41 South Africa (Stadio Omero Tognon, Pordenone)
Sun 4 Oct: Spain vs. South Africa (Estadio Olímpico de la Cartuja, Seville)
Scorers
Italy 29 (12) – Tries: Alyssa D’Incà (2), Vittoria Vecchini, Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi
Conversions: Michela Sillari (3)
Penalty goal: Sillari
Springbok Women 41 (24) – Tries: Anushka Groenewald (2), Byrhandré Dolf, Maria Tshiremba, Micke Gunter, Logan Welman
Conversions: Jakkie Cilliers (4)
Penalty goal: Cilliers
Springbok Women WXV Global Series Matchday Squad
15 Jakkie Cilliers
14 Alichia Arries
13 Maceala Samboya
12 Shiniqwa Lamprecht
11 Maria Tshiremba
10 Byrhandré Dolf
9 Unam Tose (Co-Captain)
8 Aseza Hele
7 Lerato Makua
6 Sizophila Solontsi (Co-Captain)
5 Catha Jacobs
4 Vainah Ubisi
3 Nombuyekezo Mdliki
2 Anushka Groenewald
1 Yonela Ngxingolo
Replacements
16 Micke Gunter
17 Sanelisiwe Charlie
18 Babalwa Latsha
19 Nomsa Mokwai
20 Aphiwe Ngwevu
21 Felicia Jacobs
22 Libbie Janse van Rensburg
23 Logan Welman
Italy Women WXV Global Series Matchday Squad
1 Silvia Turani
2 Vittoria Vecchini
3 Alessia Pilani
4 Alessandra Frangipani
5 Giordana Duca
6 Francesca Sgorbini
7 Alissa Ranuccini
8 Elisa Giordano
9 Sofia Stefan
10 Emma Stevanin
11 Alyssa D’Incà
12 Sara Mannini
13 Michela Sillari
14 Aura Muzzo
15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (Captain)
Replacements
16 Chiara Cheli
17 Laura Foscato
18 Gaia Dosi
19 Giulia Cavina
20 Mascia Jelic
21 Alia Bitonci
22 Beatrice Rigoni
23 Francesca Granzotto
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: The Springbok Women celebrate their first ever win on Italian soil, a 41-29 victory over Italy in their second match of the WXV Global Series, built on a ruthless set piece, six tries and the goal-kicking of Jakkie Cilliers, and sealed in the closing minutes after the hosts had led with a quarter of an hour to play, at the Stadio Omero Tognon in Pordenone, Italy on Saturday, 26 September 2026. Photo: SA Rugby / Gallo Images
Photo 2 Caption: Anushka Groenewald scores her first two Test tries in Pordenone, both driven over from close range off the Springbok Women rolling maul.
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