Springbok Women’s coach reflects on missed opportunities in defeat to Canada

Springbok Women’s performance coach Swys de Bruin feels had they converted the breaks they created in the defeat against Canada, it could have been a different story.

The South Africans were left to rue missed opportunities as they succumbed 33-5 to the world’s No 2 team in the second Test at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday afternoon. But with 15 minutes to go in the match, De Bruin felt the Springbok Women were still in the contest.

“At 19-5 and we get three line breaks, scoring chances, with 15 minutes to go I thought, ‘okay, they’re number two and we’re number 12, we’ve closed the gap’,” he said at the post-match media conference. “I mustn’t let the fact that they scored those two tries at the and pull the wool over my eyes. We had so many line breaks against a top side like that.

“And then we almost get the jitters when someone runs through, we’re not used to it. Because Jakkie (Cilliers) went weak, Libbie (Janse van Rensburg) is through and just lost the ball, Zintle (Mpupha) is through and just drops the ball, where they finished.

"That was the difference. Every one of their points came from great finishing and we got the line breaks but we didn’t finish. I felt if we could finish, it would have been a totally different story.”

The Springbok Women did well to recover from an error-strewn first Test at Loftus in Pretoria last weekend against one of the favourites for next month’s World Cup.

De Bruin said the growth the team has shown over the past two weeks against the second-ranked team in the world was commendable and made him a proud coach.

“I will be the first one to admit that we are far from the finished product, but the improvement was real and we were in this match for a long time,” he said. “We only scored once, but had so many other opportunities and that was very pleasing. Those are all fixable errors.

"We needed these two Test matches to see where we are, and I am very happy with the report card thus far.”

Bok Women’s skipper Nolusindiso Booi was proud of the attitude of her team.

“We never stopped trying, we never stopped playing. Our coaches prepared us very well for this and we responded as best we could. It was also pleasing to see the crowds come early for our match. Sadly, we could not secure them the win, but we did them proud, that I know,” she said.

Booi, who is in line to be selected for her fourth Rugby World Cup, also complimented Canada.

“They were really composed when it mattered and closed out the game in style. One could see why they are ranked where they are. We are not there yet, but I can honestly say that we are on track with our World Cup prep.”

The Springbok Women will assemble in Cape Town next Sunday to prepare for the two Black Ferns XV matches, at Athlone Stadium on July 26 and August 2.