Good progress and cohesion after Bok Women camp

The Springbok Women concluded their training camp in Gqeberha on Friday and according to assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt, they made big gains in the build-up to the forthcoming WXV 2 tournament in Cape Town next month.

Johannes-Haupt reflected on the hard work where 46 players prepared for two weeks to get ready for the Springbok Women’s first opportunity to play at home in 2024.

“It was great to have so many players, no doubt the best we have in the country, available for this camp and one can only thank all the stakeholders who made this possible,” said Johannes-Haupt.

“It was really great to have all of them in camp and for the new coaching staff to work closely with them.”

She said it was also an ideal way for the new coaching team to align and work together. Swys de Bruin was named as Springbok Women performance coach earlier this month, with Bafana Nhleko added as backs and defence coach, joining incumbent forwards coaches Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September.

“We found each other very quickly and was on the same page almost from day one of camp,” said Johannes-Haupt. “There is good interaction in this coaching group, and we got a lot of detail done. I am also pleased with the progress on our fundamentals and the work done by our forwards.”

The scrum coach said the presence of a number of Springbok Women’s Sevens players also boosted the energy: “It is lovely to have them back, as we did not have access to them as they were playing in the world series earlier. They bring so much speed and energy to our team and it is really nice to have them back and available to play for us.”

The Bok Women face a star-studded Barbarians team next Saturday at DHL Stadium and will play Spain at the same venue on 19 September before they start their WXV 2 campaign against Japan on 27 September, also at DHL Stadium.

A squad of 36 players will assemble in Cape Town this weekend to prepare for the first two fixtures.

“Our focus over the last two weeks was all about ourselves and what we wanted to achieve as a squad,” she said.

“With that foundation done, we will start preparing for the Baabaas match in all earnest on Monday. They will be a real test for us. It is a match everyone is looking forward to, especially as we will share the match day experience with the Springboks.”

The match against the Barbarians will kick-off at 13h30 next Saturday and the Springboks/All Blacks encounter at 17h00.

Johannes-Haupt urges ticket holders to flock into the stadium early: “It would be lovely if people can come early to watch us play as well. This will be our first match at home this year and everyone is very excited about that.”

Springbok Women squad for Barbarians and Spain matches:

Forwards (19):
Lindelwa Gwala (Ealing Trailfinders Women) - 32 caps, 60 points (12 tries)
Micke Gunter (Bulls Daisies) - 8 caps, 0 points
Roseline Botes (DHL Western Province) - 19 caps, 45 points (9 tries)
Sanelisiwe Charlie (Bulls Daisies) - 18 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) - 5 caps, 0 points
Yonela Ngxingolo (Bulls Daisies) - 28 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Azisa Mkiva (DHL Western Province) - 9 caps, 0 points
Babalwa Latsha (Harlequins Women) - 29 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) - uncapped
Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) - 12 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Nolusindiso Booi (DHL Western Province) - 45 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daisies) - 14 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Catha Jacobs (Leicester Tigers Women) - 15 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Anathi Qolo (Bulls Daisies) - 4 caps, 0 points
Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames) - 21 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
Sinazo Mcatshulwa (DHL Western Province) - 31 caps, 45 points (9 tries)
Sinelitha Noxeke (Bulls Daisies) – 2 caps, 0 points
Sizophila Solontsi (Bulls Daisies) - 21 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
Nobuhle Mjwara (Sharks Women) – uncapped

Backs (17):
Tayla Kinsey (Sharks Women) - 35 caps, 48 points (2 tries, 16 conversions, 2 penalty goals)
Felicia Jacobs (Sanlam Boland Dames) - 5 Tests, 5 points (1 try)
Unam Tose (Bulls Daisies) - 20 Tests, 0 points
Libbie Janse van Rensburg (Bulls Daisies) - 22 caps, 199 points (10 tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalty goals, 1 drop goal)
Mary Zulu (Sharks Women) - 12 caps, 14 points (7 conversions)
Nadine Roos (unattached) - 11 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) - 22 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
Chumisa Qawe (Bulls Daisies) - 15 Tests, 15 points (3 tries)
Zintle Mpupha (Bulls Daisies) - 20 Tests, 101 points (19 tries, 3 conversions)
Jakkie Cilliers (Bulls Daisies) - 13 caps, 68 points (7 tries, 12 conversions, 3 penalty goals)
Maceala Samboya (Sanlam Boland Dames) - 4 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Nomawethu Mabenge (Sanlam Boland Dames) - 17 caps, 70 points (14 tries)
Shaunique Hess (DHL Western Province) - 5 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Eloise Webb (Border Ladies) - 10 Tests, 30 points (6 tries)
Ayanda Malinga (Bulls Daisies) - 8 Tests, 50 points (10 tries)
Maria Tshiremba (Bulls Daisies) – uncapped
Byrhandrѐ Dolf (Bulls Daisies) - 14 caps, 15 points (3 tries)

Pre-WXV match schedule:

Saturday, 7 September
Springbok Women vs Barbarians
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 13h30

Thursday, 19 September
Springbok Women vs Spain
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17h00

Springbok Women Swys de Bruin Bafana Nhleko Franzel September Laurian Johannes-Haupt

SA Rugby gets “growing the game” makeover...

SA Rugby has concluded a restructuring process that will ensure greater emphasis on participation at amateur level, as p...

Rescheduled Vodacom URC derbies confirmed...

The new dates for the two opening round Vodacom United Rugby Championship derbies involving the four South African teams...

Boks arrive in Scotland ready for tough showdown...

The Springboks touched down in Edinburgh on Sunday afternoon ready to switch into full-out Test mode with an eye on thei...

Hanekom: “Unbelievable experience” with the Boks...

Cameron Hanekom described the last week with the national team in Jersey as a “dream come true” and said he was so surpr...

Mthethwa added to Junior Bok coaching staff...

SA Rugby has announced the addition of Melusi Mthethwa to the Junior Springbok coaching staff, with the former Shimlas a...

“We have to be switched on for the full 80 minutes”

Experienced scrumhalf Cobus Reinach warned that the Springboks had to be switched on for the full 80 minutes and be ready to counter anything the All Blacks throw at them when the teams cross paths in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The 2024 Carling Currie Cup Bulletin #17

This weekend’s penultimate of round of Carling Currie Cup Premier Division action sees a top-of-the log tussle between the Vodacom Bulls and Fidelity ADT Lions on Friday afternoon, while a couple of teams will realise it’s make or break as the semi-finals loom.

All Blacks name strong team for Joburg Test

New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson and his co-selectors, assistant coaches Scott Hansen, Jason Holland, Jason Ryan and Tamati Ellison have named their All Blacks team to play the Springboks in the third match of the 2024 Castle Lager Rugby Championship at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

SA Rugby issues urgent "buyer beware" warning

SA Rugby has issued an urgent “buyer warning” to online shoppers who are in danger of being ripped off by crooks passing themselves off as the “official” Springbok store on social media channels.

Etzebeth cleared for NZ as Boks release four players

Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has been cleared to face New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday after completing all the training sessions this week and has been drafted onto the replacements bench for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship encounter, while Rassie Erasmus has released four players to their Carling Currie Cup teams to get some valuable game time this weekend.

Never-say-die Boks fight back to beat NZ in Jozi

The Springboks played catch-up rugby for most of their Castle Lager Rugby Championship epic against New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday, but came through at the end for the more than 60 000 fans to beat the All Blacks by 31-27 (half-time 11-12) in a match that will be talked about for a long time to come.

Kolisi on All Black nailbiter: “Nobody panicked”

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi praised the composure of his teammates for a remarkable come-from-behind Castle Lager Rugby Championship victory over New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.

Boks emphasise consistency ahead of NZ rematch

The Springboks don’t want to fall into the “Ireland trap” when they face New Zealand in Cape Town this weekend, which is why young halfbacks Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Grant Williams stressed the importance of remaining consistent after their victory in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Bok Women embrace first match at home in 2024

The Springbok Women are keen to start their first appearance front of a home crowd in South Africa on the best possible note and as such, had no problems to focus on what needs to be done in the match week leading up to their Barbarians clash on Saturday.

The 2024 Carling Currie Cup Bulletin #18

The Fidelity ADT Lions ended the Vodacom Bulls' unbeaten run in the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division to move top of the log, but defeats for the Toyota Cheetahs and Airlink Pumas mean the 2023 and 2022 champions will be involved in a “quarter-final” this weekend to see who will join the Gauteng teams and the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV in the playoffs.