The Springbok Women’s team are back in action this weekend, for the first time since their fateful and disappointing appearance at last year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Since then, there have been some changes, including the departure of long-term Bok Women coach Stanley Raubenheimer – who was at the helm for four years and helped the team to some milestone victories in his final year in charge.
These milestones included beating Spain for the first time and a win against Japan on Japanese soil. However, the team could not carry the momentum forward into the World Cup.
Grouped with England and France, both ranked in the world’s top five, South Africa were always going to have a tough battle.
However, they knew that an emphatic victory against World Cup debutants Fiji would boost their chances of qualifying for the knockouts for the first time ever – as one the best third-placed teams.
Fiji did not read from the same script and upset the favoured South Africans to clinch their maiden victory on the biggest stage for women’s rugby.
The tussle against the Fijiana was also meant to serve as a canvas for the Bok women to paint a picture of their progress over the previous three years. It wasn’t to be and it ul
…. to be continued
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