First ever win over Baabaas for Bok Women

MATCH REPORT: South Africa’s Bok women turned the tables on the Barbarians after a brilliant 59-17 victory in Cape Town on Saturday.

The Bok women scored nine tries against the three of the Barbarians and laid the foundation for the big tussle between the Springboks and All Blacks to follow.

The first meeting between the South Africa Women’s XV and the Barbarian Women – in front of a then-record crowd of 29,581 at Twickenham Stadium in November 2021 – resulted in a 60-5 domination by the famous Black and White.

The women’s coach Swys de Bruin had to watch the game from home as he recovered from swine flu and says at one stage he had to wipe the tears as the pride overcame him.

It was a massive step up for the Springbok women and already the hand of De Bruin, combined with coaches Bafana Nhleko, Johannes-Haupt, and Franzel September was evident.

A great maul from a line-out got Lindelwa Gwala over in the third minute for the first try of the game to the Springboks. Jakkie Cilliers converted and the Bok women took an early lead.

A couple of infringements by the Barbarians allowed South Africa to drive forward through the boot of Cilliers.

The second try was a repeat of the first, coming off a line-out and lock Vainah Ubisi managed to drive over in the tenth minute.

Cilliers converted once more and the Bok women took the lead 12-0.

Five minutes later it was Ayanda Malinga who got over in the corner after some more enterprising play in which Eloise Webb cut a clean line which put the Boks in the Barbarians’ 22.

From there the ball was spread wide quickly by Nadine Roos ending up in the hands of Malinga who had to beat one defender but stepped past her to score.

Bronze Commonwealth medalist Lydia Thompson finally got over for the visitors in the opposite corner.

Amber Reed could not convert, but the Barbarians were on the scoreboard, trailing by 5-19.

From the kick-off, Cilliers went in high for a tackle and got her marching orders for head contact.

In the second 20 minutes of the first half, South Africa seemed to lose some momentum.

Thomson again showed her pace, even outrunning Roos, to get the Barbarian’s second try and they closed the gap to 10-19.

With seven minutes left of the first half, Cillers was back on the field after her yellow card.

Then it was the turn of the unstoppable Aseze Hele with a brilliant straight run to score under the poles. The strong No. 8 was the best of South Africa in the first half.

Her time with Harlequins in London has elevated her game to the next level.

South Africa was leading 26-10 with three minutes left of the first half.

A minute later Sinazo Mcatshulwa scored the fifth try after Chumisa Qawe cut through the middle like a hot knife through butter.

Cilliers recorded a perfect kicking performance in the first half and converted all five tries to help South Africa to a 33-10 lead at halftime.

The Barbarians got on the front foot early in the second half as they advanced into the red zone of South Africa allowing Kendra Cocksedge to dive over.

Cocksedge, the most capped Black Fern of all time, made her test debut for New Zealand at 19.

A superb victory for the #BokWomen over a star-studded @Barbarian_FC in Cape Town – more here: https://t.co/B0uBaDWjFS 💚💛#MakeItCount #ETTIG pic.twitter.com/Ob3FmHteje

— SA Women’s Rugby (@WomenBoks) September 7, 2024

This time Reed converted, closing the gap for the Barbarians to 17-33.

A high tackle by Sizophila Solontsi saw her get her marching orders after she tried to clear a ruck, reducing the Bok women to 14 players in the 52nd minute.

A nice period of play, with South Africa spreading the ball coast to coast, sent them back into the red zone of the Barbarians but they could not convert the territory possession into points.

The Barbarians got their mojo going in the second half, but credit to South Africa’s defence coach Nhleko as his charges remained steadfast in their defence.

But when the gaps opened up, the dangerous Bok Women didn’t hesitate and after several phases in which soft hands were displayed, Yonela Ngxingolo got over, converted by Cilliers.

A Bok women’s game would not be complete without a try by Roos and true to herself, she made a break and showed clean heels to score under uprights, stretching the lead to 47-17.

And then Felicia Jacobs displayed her pace and step for a long-distance try after the Barbarians kicked the ball down the throat of South Africa.

With five minutes left, the Bok women led 52-17 in a first-ever thrashing of the Barbarians.

And why not seal the game with another try by the speedy Malinga three minutes before full-time for a 42-point gap?

Scorers:

For South Africa:
Tries: Gwala, Ubisi, Malilnga 2, Hele, Mcatshulwa, Ngxingolo, Roos, Jacobs
Cons: Cilliers 7

For the Barbarians:
Tries: Thompson 2, Cocksedge
Cons: Reed

Yellow cards: Jakkie Cilliers (South Africa, 23’ – for high tackle), Sizophila Solontsi (South Africa, 52’ – dangerous cleanout); Sera Naiqama (Barbarians, 65’ – for head contact)

Teams:

South Africa: 15 Byrhandré Dolf, 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 Lindelwa Gwala, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie.
Replacements: 16 Micke Gunter, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Azisa Mkiva, 19 Danelle Lochner, 20 Sinelitha Noxeke, 21 Felicia Jacobs, 22 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 23 Zintle Mpupha.

Barbarians Women: 15 Emily Scott, 14 Cheta Emba, 13 Carla Hohepa, 12 Rachael Burford, 11 Lydia Thompson, 10 Amber Reed, 9 Kendra Cocksedge, 8 Rownita Marston-Mulheam, 7 Claire Molloy, 6 Charmaine McMenamin (captain), 5 Ciara Cooney, 4 Alycia Washington, 3 Cerys Hale, 2 Joanna Kitlinksi, 1 Rochelle Clark
Replacements: 16 Abi Meyrick, 17 Kathryn Buggy, 18 Laura Keates, 19 Sera Naiqama, 20 Kathryn Dane, 21 Sarah Law, 22 Rachel Lund, 23 Celia Quansah

Referee: Zoe Naudé
Assistant referees: Bulela Qwane, Martie Mostert
TMO: Aimee Barrett-Theron