Bok Women show true grit to see off Japan
MATCH REPORT: The Springbok Women edged Japan 31-24 in a thrilling WXV 2 opener at Cape Town Stadium on Friday.
The Test delivered a classic clash of styles, with South Africa’s direct and abrasive power game up against Japan’s use of width, pace and skill. On the day, the Bok Women came up trumps, but they had their defence to thank for this victory.
Under pressure for most of the game, the South Africans were brilliant on defence, making tackle after tackle to clinch a famous victory under their new coaching staff.
Japan were out of the blocks faster and set up camp in the SA half, not scared to give the ball air and play with width, but the host team’s defence held firm until the 10th minute, when Kotomi Taniguchi was driven over from a maul.
Ayasa Otsuka’s conversion was good and after dominating the opening exchanges, the Sakura deservedly led by 7-0, but the Bok Women hit back almost immediately when Aseza Hele crashed over from a series of pick-and-goes in their opponents’ 22.
Seven minutes later, Otsuka scored a great try from a grubber into the SA in-goal area to stretch Japan’s lead to 12-5 after South Africa paid the price for some ill-discipline.
Chumisa Qawe then made it a two-point game again with almost a carbon copy of Hele’s try, with Japan unable to stop the big inside centre at close quarters.
Shortly before the break, South Africa took the lead for the first time when Sanelisiwe Charlie powered her way over for a superb try set up by a strong driving maul before the loosehead prop burst away to score.
Jakkie Cilliers was on song with the conversion and at 17-12 at half-time, the South Africans could breathe after they were put under pressure in their own half by Japan for big parts of the opening 40 minutes.
The Bok Women started the second half like they finished the first when Ayanda Malinga scored a great try after they showed patience on attack, keeping the ball in hand until a superb offload from Hele put the speedster away.
Cilliers’ conversion made it a 12-point game, but the Bok Women’s discipline started to falter and Japan’s Seina Saito scored two tries in quick succession, both after SA conceded penalties in their own half and the visitors set up mauls, with the Sakura No.8 finishing.
One of the tries was converted and scores were tied 15 minutes after the break, when South Africa managed to find a bit of rhythm again.
Japan lost Otsuka to the sinbin for a dangerous tackle and the Bok Women introduced their own Bomb Squad which immediately led to a try by the hard-working Vainah Ubisi, who was unstoppable close to the line. Cilliers converted and the South Africans were back in the lead with 20 minutes to go.
But the Japanese were not done yet, exploiting mistakes by South Africa to set up camp in the Bok Women’s 22, forcing the host team to defend, which they did with composure, snuffing out a few attacks by the Sakura.
Japan’s 72nd minute celebration, when Manami Mine went over next to the uprights, was short-lived however after the try was ruled out by the TMO for obstruction earlier in the move, and South Africa could breathe again after being under pressure.
The Sakura refused to give up and kept on attacking, but the South Africans refused to stop tackling and were crowned deserved winners.
The scorers:
For South Africa:
Tries: Hele, Qawe, Charlie, Malinga, Ubisi
Cons: Cilliers 3
For Japan:
Tries: Taniguchi, Otsuka, Saito 2
Cons: Otsuka, Matsumura
Teams:
South Africa Women: 15 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 14 Jakkie Cilliers, 13 Eloise Webb, 12 Chumisa Qawe, 11 Ayanda Malinga, 10 Nadine Roos, 9 Tayla Kinsey, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Sinazo Mcatshulwa, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Vainah Ubisi, 4 Nolusindiso Booi (captain), 3 Babalwa Latsha, 2 Roseline Botes, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie.
Replacements: 16 Micke Gunter, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Azisa Mkiva, 19 Danelle Lochner, 20 Catha Jacobs, 21 Anathi Qolo, 22 Unam Tose, 23 Zintle Mpupha.
Japan Women: 15 Sora Nishimura, 14 Misaki Matsumura, 13 Mana Furuta, 12 Haruka Hirotsu, 11 Komachi Imakugi, 10 Ayasa Otsuka, 9 Moe Tsukui, 8 Seina Saitio, 7 Iroha Nagata (captain), 6 Masami Kawamura, 5 Otoka Yoshimura, 4 Yuna Sato, 3 Wako Kitano, 2 Kotomi Taniguchi, 1 Sachiko Kato.
Replacements: 16 Asuka Kuge, 17 Manami Mine, 18 Nijiho Nagata, 19 Kyoko Hosokawa, 20 Jennifer Nduka, 21 Megumi Abe, 22 Rinka Matsuda, 23 Kanako Kobayashi.
Referee: Maria Latos (Germany)
Assistant referees: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe), Ella Goldsmith (Australia)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
