The Springbok Women may have lost the first of two matches against New Zealand’s Black Ferns XV at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday evening, but the visitors were made to work much harder for the 34-26 victory than what the scoreline indicated.
The South Africans played with a lot of passion and power, but not enough patience as the experienced New Zealanders - who led by 20-12 at the break - played with a bit more skill and pace, which was probably the difference in the end..
However, the Bok Women played some of their best rugby, especially in the second half, and although the visitors outscored their hosts by six tries to four, they will leave Athlone knowing they were in a proper contest, with a week to go before the second match at the same venue.
The Blacks Ferns were on the scoreboard early courtesy of a well-taken backline try.
From the first scrum of the match three minutes in, the visitors played to the right, worked the overlap and fullback Mererangi Paul found herself in space to score in the corner.
The conversion was wide, but the visitors were up and running.
The home side came back strongly with solid basics, with first a pick and go taking them close before a dink over the top by Tayla Kinsey had Jakkie Cilliers running hard, but on both occasions the Kiwis’ defence held out.
South Africa kept up the pressure and used the strong wind in their backs to pin their opponents in their half, but the Bok Women were guilty of small errors and that allowed the NZ side to get their hands on the ball.
The Springbok Women kept plugging away though and from a lineout drive, No 8 Aseza Hele finished a powerful maul.
Cilliers added the conversion and after 22 minutes of rugby, the home side were up 7-5.
From the restart, the Ferns attacked well and Vainah Ubisi made a desperate tackle from an offside position.
That resulted in her being shown a yellow card and the Ferns struck immediately.
From a set play, the ball was moved wide where Kelsey Teneti found space to score.
The conversion was wide again, but the visitors reclaimed the lead at 10-7 after 22 minutes.
They extended that a few minutes later when Jaymie Kolose (left wing) intercepted a long Libbie Janse van Rensburg pass to score and that try extended their lead to 15-7 with half an hour gone.
Despite still playing with Ubisi in the bin, the Bok pack's power again came to the fore with another strong drive that resulted in Hele dotting down.
The kick was wide, but the NZ lead was cut to three 15-12 after 36 minutes.
The Bok defence was reduced in numbers again, this time when Eloise Webb was yellow carded for illegally slapping down the ball.
The Black Ferns XV made their numerical advantage count and Teneti scored her second of the half, which extended their lead to 20-12.
The last three minutes of the half had the South Africans attacking from close range, but they just could not finish their efforts and at the break, the visitors were deservedly ahead, even if for just finishing their opportunities so much better.
PROPER FIGHT
The New Zealanders extended their lead to 34-12 with two early second-half tries, by midfielders Hollyrae Mete Renata and Teneti, who completed her hat-trick, but the South Africans were not done yet and with 30 minutes to go, Babalwa Latsha barged over from close range for their third try, converted by Cilliers to make it 34-19.
Latsha’s try and the introduction of some replacements seemed to light the South Africans’ fuse, and they started increasing the pressure on the visitors.
Nadine Roos moved to scrumhalf and got her forwards into play as they bashed it up, and making good ground on a few occasions, only for unforced errors handing possession back to the visitors in their 22.
Pressure finally told when replacement lock Sinazo Mcatshulwa crashed over from close range after a number of phases, but unfortunately for the Bok Women and the thousands of supporters that came out to Athlone Stadium, the try was ruled out by the TMO for obstruction on the tryline.
It gave the visitors a little bit of respite, but it didn’t break the Bok Women’s spirit and in a matter of minutes, they were back in the Kiwi 22 after the ball was hacked ahead.
This time, replacement loose forward Catha Jacobs was held up over the tryline, with the Black Ferns XV defending very well.
Yet again the Bok Women had to work their way back in position, and this time they scored as replacement prop Nombuyekezo Mdliki got her try after phase after phase of relentless attack, with Cilliers adding the extras to make it 34-26 with time almost up on the clock.
Unfortunately, they didn’t have another opportunity and the visitors hung on for the victory, but they would have left the field knowing they were in a proper fight.
SCORERS:
SPRINGBOK WOMEN 26 (12) – Tries: Aseza Hele (2), Babalwa Latsha, Nombuyekezo Mdliki. Conversions: Jakkie Cilliers (3).
BLACK FERNS XV 34 (20) – Tries: Mererangi Paul, Kelsey Teneti (3), Jaymie Kolose, Hollyrae Mete Renata. Conversions: Hannah King (2).