The Springbok Women took a note out of their male Rugby World Cup-winning counterparts’ playbook to beat Spain 36-19 in the once-off Test at an icy Cape Town Stadium on Thursday.
The Bok Women utilised their superior forward power to overwhelm their European rivals. Their dominance in the set pieces – both lineouts and scrums – provided the platform for the Boks to run in six tries.
After an opening period that saw both teams exchange early tries through a darting run by Spain’s flyhalf Amalia Aguardo around the fringes and a surge from Bok No 8 Aseza Hela off the back of a scrum, the point of difference between the sides was a couple of touchdowns from hooker Lindelwa Gwala either side of the half-time interval.
Gwala put the Boks ahead 12-5 shortly before the break when the home team spurned the opportunity for three points by opting for the lineout instead.
Aseza Hele's power 😳🔥
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With the tryline in sight, the Spanish forwards could not contend with the strength of the Bok pack as Gwala drove over for the five-pointer.
It was a case of rinse and repeat when the second half got under way, with the Bok rolling maul again perfectly executed, allowing for the hooker to crash over for her second try.
At the heart of the Bok performance was the inspirational lock forward Vainah Ubisi. The second rower was a tower of strength in the tight exchanges, while also showing off her athleticism by bursting through a couple of tackles with ball in hand.
Ubisi was rewarded for her industrious performance when she claimed a lineout on the Spanish tryline before powering through the defence for the Boks to kill off any attempted fightback from the visitors, after Martina Marquez had narrowed the gap to 24-12 with a try in the 65th minute.
Fullback Libbie Janse van Rensburg’s try saw her become the first South African woman to register 200 Test points.
There was further delight for the Bok fans that had braved the cold Cape Town afternoon when Cheslin Kolbe-lookalike Shaunique Hess showed off her pace to outstrip the Spanish defence after collecting an intercept deep inside her half.
Right wing Jakkie Cilliers also enjoyed a good day out with the boot, considering the awful kicking conditions, slotting three from six of her attempted conversions.
To the Spaniards’ credit, and what they will take into next week’s WXV 2 series, is that they never gave up and were rewarded with a third try through replacement Zahia Perez after the final hooter had sounded.
The Boks have now beaten the Spaniards for the fifth time in succession, dating back to August 2022 at Ellis Park.
The moment Libbie Janse van Rensburg made history for the Springbok Women 😤
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Points-Scorers
Springbok Women 36 – Tries: Aseza Hele, Lindelwa Gwala (2), Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Vainah Ubisi, Shaunique Hess. Conversions: Jakkie Cilliers (3).
Spain Women 19 – Tries: Amalia Argudo, Martina Marquez, Zahia Perez. Conversions: Argudo (1), Naroa Azpitarte (1).