Springbok Women embrace first match at home

The Springbok Women are keen to start their first appearance in front of a home crowd in South Africa on the best possible note and, as such, had no problems to focus on what needs to be done in the match week leading up to their Barbarians clash on Saturday.

They will have to prepare without Swys de Bruin however, as the newly appointed performance coach fell ill on Sunday and will not join the squad this week.

De Bruin will continue to guide the rest of the coaching staff virtually.

According to assistant coach, Franzel September, the team's approach on Monday, their first training day of the week, was positive with clear goals on what to achieve before they run out at DHL Stadium for a 1:30pm kick-off this weekend.

“This week is all about ourselves – we want to get our systems right and make sure that come Saturday, we are all aligned and ready to go,” said September.

“We have a new coaching staff and we aligned well in the two-week camp we had in Gqeberha, and this week will all about implementing the things we want to get out of the match. It is no use to focus on our opponents, we need to focus on ourselves and what we want to get out of this game, which is played in preparation of the WXV 2 later this month.”

They may be without their new coach, but the #BokWomen are primed and ready for a big week in Cape Town - more here: https://t.co/2qoX9HJfMa 💥#MakeItCount #ETTIG pic.twitter.com/dQ0POlUm66

— SA Women's Rugby (@WomenBoks) September 2, 2024

Although they are excited to play against a star-studded opposition, September said they will not be carried away by the occasion: “We cannot be them, we are the Springbok Women. We have our own style and strengths and will have to enforce that style on them.

“The Baabaas are known for an adventurous approach and taking the ball wide and I don't think anything will be different this time around. We need to be ready and much of the week will be about arriving with the right mindset and game plan at the game on Saturday.”

'MASSIVE HONOUR'

September points to the fact that they will share the same field as the Springboks on the same day they play the All Blacks.

“That is massive for us and a huge honour to share this day with the Boks, but they are not going to play for us, we need to go out there and get the job done ourselves,” he said.

“We have an opportunity to showcase our talents on the same field as the Boks and want to show that we indeed deserve that opportunity. This match will give us a good idea of where we are and what is still needed before WXV starts.”

Zintle Mpupha said her focus has now moved firmly back to fifteens after returning from the Olympic Games and playing on the HSBC SVNS circuit with the Springbok Women's Sevens team.

“I have done it before and by now, the transition process works for me,” said Mpupha.

“It is the same field and the same ball, you just have more people to contend with in fifteens.”

The experienced centre, who has scored 101 points in 20 tests, is keen to give the remainder of the season a full go: “The Olympics was great and it was a goal reached, but that is something of the past now. I had a nice break after the Games and returned refreshed and ready.

“I do have some experience and hope that the rest of the team can benefit from that. Having said that, I still have a lot to learn myself and want to contribute on the field in any way the coaches see fit.”

De Bruin will only be back with the squad on 15 September when they assemble for the test against Spain in Cape Town on 19 September.