This was the first time the team played since their match against the Barbarians last November and for Raubenheimer, the positives outweighed the negatives by far in a clash dominated in the scoring stakes by the home side.

“The first objective for us was to play a game and to see how the team gelled,” the coach said.

“It was a tough ask for the players, who came into camp this week and to be involved in a game so soon thereafter, but I am fairly pleased with the effort of the team.

"We need some work on our skill set, but from a conditioning point of view, we are right up there. The Hamiltons boys did not hold back, exactly as we requested from them. I am very pleased with the way our players responded to that."

Raubenheimer was pleased with the first phase efforts: "We had Deon (Davids) and Daan (Human) working with the squad earlier, so I was keen to see the impact of that. We did not start well, but once we had a chat and a bit of a regroup, things went well for us.

“Our kicking game still needs some work, but to be fair it was the first time the kickers encountered such extreme conditions (a howling southeaster), that did pose a challenge to the players."

Raubenheimer was also pleased with the performances of Byrhandre Dolf and Luchell Hanekom, who played with the squad for the first time after being drafted from the national U18 training squad.

"The youngsters have massive potential and held their own amongst the senior players around them. That bodes well for the future of the squad," he said.

The Springbok Women training squad will have another match next Wednesday, this time against the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Bellville.