There is the little matter of last year’s result, but for the Springbok Women, Saturday’s final WXV 2 match against Italy at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town is all about finishing the season well and with their tails up.
Springbok Women performance coach Swys de Bruin heaped praise on his squad after a dramatic comeback performance in their WXV 2 match against Australia at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday evening brought them to the brink of a draw against the team ranked seventh in the world.
She has been on the biggest stages of the rugby world, but on Saturday, Zintle Mpupha does not want to be anywhere else than at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, playing in the green and gold of South Africa with a leaping springbok on the chest, fueled on by a home crowd rooting for the Springbok Women and urging them on to be the best version of themselves against a much-vaunted opponent.
Expect the unexpected, but be sure that the Springbok Women will have their minds firmly on the job at hand and executing their opponent-specific gameplan when they take on Australia's Wallaroos in their second round WXV 2 clash at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.
With the first hurdle cleared in WXV 2, the Springbok Women have their eyes firmly set on their next challenge in the tournament, taking on Australia in Cape Town on Saturday, an engagement they are looking forward to.
The Springboks secured the 2024 Rugby Championship title after cruising to a commanding 48-7 victory over Argentina at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
It was a hot and humid night in Kumagaya when Ayanda Malinga last faced Japan, but the memory of that special Test 26 months ago still fuels the Springbok Women winger.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus released three players, Ben-Jason Dixon, Johan Grobbelaar, and Canan Moodie, to their local franchises after the Boks wrapped up their main training block for the week on Wednesday, before the Castle Lager Rugby Championship decider between South Africa and Argentina at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday.
Ayanda Malinga will make a return to Test rugby for the first time since 2022 after being named on the left wing for the Springbok Women’s opening match of WXV 2 against Japan at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Friday.
Eben Etzebeth will set the record as the most capped Springbok of all time on in Nelspruit Saturday when he runs out at lock against Argentina, while Jaden Hendrikse and Manie Libbok are paired as starting halfbacks for the first time in the title-deciding match of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship at the Mbombela Stadium.