The significance of the moment is something to treasure, but there is no doubt in the minds of the Springbok Women on what their job is when they face Fijiana XV in Suva on Saturday.
Bok Women assistant coach Franzel September said everyone in the squad are aligned to deliver their best effort for team and country.
The Springbok Women are on their first tour of Fiji, they will have a first-time captain in Libbie Janse van Rensburg, and Shiniqwa Lamprecht will make her test debut, but those are all pieces in the bigger puzzle that needs to be completed at HFC Bank Stadium, according to September.
“The hospitality we received has been great and we truly appreciate that – we were really struck by the friendliness and kindness bestowed on us,” said September.
“That said, we remind ourselves every day that we are here to play two test matches, we are not on vacation. Come tomorrow, when we put those jerseys on to represent the Springbok Women and South Africa, we accept the responsibility that comes with that.
“We are going onto that field representing everyone back home, be it family, supporters, sponsors and we owe it to all of them to give our absolute best. That is a non-negotiable in the squad and everybody bought into that.”
September said there is a clear bond and understanding between the players and the coaching staff: “The preparation for this trip did not start here, we worked very hard back home as well to make sure we get our game plan ready and that there is clarity in roles and responsibilities and there is trust from the coaches that the players will go out and execute that.
“We will back the players in making the correct decisions, just as I think they back the coaches in calling certain plays. Whether we go for poles, kick for touch, the bottom line will be to keep them from scoring and getting momentum.”
The two sides have only met once before, at the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, where Fiji won in the last play of the match, but September said they know exactly what the current squad will bring, and that discipline will be key.
“Fiji play a good game, much of it based on momentum, so our job would be to stop them in their tracks,” he said.
“For that we need to be connected as one and play as such. Yes, they will have a crowd behind them, but we can also win them over if we succeed to force our style of play on them. We also have something to offer them.
“Our physicality must come to the front in everything we do, but in a disciplined way. One of our targets going into 2029 is to be the most disciplined team around and that building blocks starts here.
“We have not encountered our match referee before, but that does not matter who apply the laws, they stay the same. We need to be the most disciplined team on the field and that is it.”
On the playing conditions, September said: “Due to the location of the stadium to the coast, some windy conditions could be expected, and we had some light showers during the week, so that is also a possibility I suppose.
“One adjustment we needed to make was the match ball, where we will revert to a size 5 ball again, after playing all our provincial matches and tests against USA with a 4.5 size.”
SELECTED STATS:
● Jess Ling (Australia) will take charge of South Africa for the first time with this fixture against Fiji, a side she has refereed on four previous occasions with a W3, L1 record.
● The result could also have an impact on the current world rankings. Defeat by more than 15 points would see South Africa surrender 10th place to Japan, while Fiji will climb above Wales to a new high of 12th with victory over South Africa, so the home side clearly has much more to gain.
● In their only previous encounter, Zintle Mpupha and Aseza Hele scored tries, while Libbie Janse van Rensburg kicked two conversions and a penalty goal.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Springbok Women v Fijiana XV
16/10/2020: SA lost 17-21 in Auckland, New Zealand (Women's Rugby World Cup)
MATCH DETAILS – Fijiana XV v Springbok Women:
Date: 8 August
Venue: HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
SA time: 04h00 (SA time, 14h00 Fiji time)
Referee: Jess Ling (Australia)
Assistant referees: Amber McLachlan (Australia), Erin Doherty (New Zealand)
TMO: Graham Cooper (Australia)
TV: SuperSport
SPRINGBOK WOMEN TO FACE FIJI IN SUVA:
15 Byrhandré Dolf (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 27 caps, 64 points (7 tries, 13 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
14 Maceala Samboya (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 8 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
13 Zintle Mpupha (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) - 29 caps, 106 points (20 tries, 3 conversions)
12 Shiniqwa Lamprecht (Sanlam Boland Dames) - uncapped
11 Patience Mokone (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) - 3 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg (captain, Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 32 caps, 219 points (14 tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalty goals, 1 drop goal)
9 Anacadia Minnaar (EP Queens) – 6 caps, 3 points (1 penalty goal)
8 Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames) - 32 caps, 85 points (17 tries)
7 Lerato Makua (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 20 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
6 Sizophila Solontsi (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 33 caps, 45 points (9 tries)
5 Nomsa Mokwai (DHL Western Province) – 17 caps, 0 points
4 Vainah Ubisi (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 24 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
3 Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 13 caps, 5 points (1 try)
2 Lindelwa Gwala (Sharks Women) - 38 caps, 75 points (15 tries)
1 Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 12 caps, 0 points
REPLACEMENTS:
16 Anushka Groenewald (DHL Western Province) – 8 caps, 0 points
17 Yonela Ngxingolo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 44 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
18 Thandile Mazwi (DHL Western Province) – 4 caps, 5 points (1 try)
19 Catha Jacobs (Golden Lions Women) – 28 caps, 5 points (1 try)
20 Sinelitha Noxeke (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 7 caps, 0 points
21 Nobuhle Mjwara (Sharks Women) - 6 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
22 Felicia Jacobs (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 11 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
23 Alichia Arries (DHL Western Province) – 7 caps, 25 points (5 tries)