The Springbok Women team have been quietly going on about their business unnoticed and preparing for today’s final group match against France at the cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, in Northampton, England, where the World Cup is taking place.
The South Africans have already qualified for the quarterfinals, and the significance of today’s match is to top their group. Kick-off is at 5:30pm today.
After their historic, nail-biting 29-24 victory over Italy last Sunday, the team returned to Northampton this past week – where they beat Brazil in their pool opener two weeks ago – to start their preparations for their last group game against France, the other unbeaten team in the pool.
The win, their first in four attempts against the Italians, means South Africa will also move into the top ten on the World Rugby rankings for the first time.
The SA Women head coach Swys de Bruin and team captain Nolusindiso Booi said that their team’s refusal to back down when Italy came with a determined fight back to twice draw level in the game, as well as the tactical acumen of his coaching staff, were highlights in their journey so far.
Booi, the skipper, said the victories cemented the team’s improvement and self-belief: “The performance was magic; we never stopped fighting, knowing what was at stake.
“This win was for all who came before us, those who paved the way. Look at where we started and look where we are now – in the top ten of the world game.
“This is just so rewarding for everyone, especially the coaches who prepared us for this moment,” she told the SA Rugby website.
Booi – who is playing in her fourth RWC tournament – said the victory was equally special on a personal level: “I will not play rugby again at this level after this tournament, and to now have won two pool games in a row and qualify for the quarter-finals is just such a humble feeling of gratitude. We worked so hard for this, and now we finally reap some rewards.”
Booi added that the feeling that they could break into the top ten of the world was driving the team.
“We knew why we were playing. The support today out here in York was massive and certainly pushed us to stay on the top of our game. There were just too many people that would have been disappointed if we did not make history today.”
