Bok Women could find blueprint for facing Kiwis in recent duels with Black Ferns XV

Could earlier clashes against the Black Ferns XV hold the blueprint for a potential Springbok Women’s  victory over New Zealand in Saturday’s Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final at Sandy Park in Exeter?

Few expect Swys de Bruin’s team to cause another upset at the tournament in England where they have already accounted for Italy and reached the knockout round for the first time, their 57-10 loss to France notwithstanding. 

However, the matches in Cape Town in July and early August against players deemed to be on the fringes of selection for the New Zealand first team may prove instructive, especially the way the Bok Women fought back in the second match after being outplayed in the first.

The DNA of the two New Zealand teams is the same, with both sides relying on pace, power, skill, great finishing and offload ability. 

The Black Ferns XV defeated the Springbok Women 34-26 in the first match in Athlone, a hard-fought battle notable for a comeback from the Springbok Women in the second half. The visitors seemed to carve them open at will in the first half, their backline exploiting gaps in the Springbok Women’s defence, especially out wide. The Bok Women, meanwhile, leaned on their pack’s power, but their execution was not as clinical.  

The Springbok Women showed an improved performance and physicality in the second match, at the same venue, particularly in the tight phases and scrums. Their powerful pack laid the foundation for the comprehensive 41-24 win that gave the South African women belief that they carried into the World Cup. 

The South African scrum laid the foundation for the victory, consistently earning penalties and providing clean ball for their backline. The driving maul was a particularly potent weapon, as the Bok Women marched their opponents backward. 

Led by players like No 8 Aseza Hele and the rest of the forward pack, the Bok Women consistently gained meters with direct and powerful carries, putting the Black Ferns XV under immense pressure. 

Hele has not let that level of intensity drop in England, where she has been a wrecking ball that opposition defenders have struggled to contain.

While the forwards provided the platform, the SA backline demonstrated better finishing and precision than in the first match. The Springbok Women were more clinical than in the first match as they capitalised on their opportunities, with Ayanda Malinga and utility back Byrhandré Dolf scoring.

The message may be clear: physical dominance alone is not enough unless the Bok Women can get the ball into the hands of dangerous strike runners like Nadine Roos, Malinga, Dolf and Libbie Janse van Rensburg, and vary their attack. 

Although the Black Ferns XV still managed to score, the Springbok Women’s defence was much more resolute in the second match, nullifying many of the attacking threats seen in the first Test. Their rush defence also put pressure on the New Zealand backline and forced errors.

Ultimately, the Bok Women were full value for the win that brought them level in the build-up to the showpiece and boosted their confidence. 

The defending champions showed the scale of the task that awaits them, however, in shutting Ireland out in Sunday’s 40-0 Pool C victory where they displayed their ruthlessness in defence alongside their obvious attacking prowess.

The lessons from the matches against the Black Ferns XV will, however, give the Bok Women valuable insight into what to expect, and how to fight fire with fire.