Springbok Women keep Spain scoreless in commanding WXV win

MATCH REPORT: The Springbok Women produced a disciplined defensive display to secure a 20-0 victory over Spain in their WXV Global Series clash at Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville on Sunday, keeping the hosts scoreless despite a number of nervy moments.

South Africa were forced to dig deep after captain Babalwa Latsha suffered an early ankle injury, while replacement Nombuyekezo Mdliki was later stretchered from the field before remarkably returning to the action.

Despite the disruption, the Bok Women’s forwards laid a strong foundation while their backline showed plenty of attacking intent, with Patience Mokone impressing on her first start and Byhandre Dolf again looking composed at flyhalf.

The Bok Women had a nervy start, losing their first lineout ball, but then won possession back and workend their way into Spain’s territory and went through some good phases.

In one of those movements, captain Bablawa Latsha was injured in the fifth minute of the match.

Byhandre Dolf looked strong at flyhalf once more, while Patience Mokone with her bright pink hair was full of running and showed promise in her first outing.

And just like that, Spain were camped out five metres from the visitors’ tryline, but Vainah Ubisi did excellent work to steal the ball in the lineout.

Aseza Hele got on her bike from behind the scrum, dynamic as always; Jakkie Cilliers took it further and Catha Jacobs was the player who went over from close range. Cilliers converted to open the South Africans’ account.

Minutes later Spain’s Claudia Peña made a run for it, went right through the middle of everyone, and it was Mokone who made a try-saving tackle, but the Los Leonas tasted blood with a scrum to come on the five metre line.

South Africa got a dominant defensive scrum, and they were off to the races. Lerato Makua got through but the ball was dislodged from her grip with the try line begging.

Latsha, who had been soldiering on gallantly, was down on the floor once again with an ankle, getting treatment and she was replaced by Nombuyekezo Mdliki.

Sizophila Solontsi made an excellent steal on the ground and Cilliers found touch; however, the South Africans bungled the lineout and Spain found themselves on the front foot from a strong scrum.

When a kick went straight down the throat of Cilliers, Dolf was put on the floor as she supported, but it was scooped up by the visitors, and they went through several phases. They won a penalty and Cilliers sent it through to stretch South Africa’s lead to 10-0.

Chaniqwa Lamprecht had a beautiful break straight through the middle, but the ball was lost as it went through the phases.

The visitors won possession and Cilliers sent the ball to the corner.

From the lineout, South Africa failed to get over the whitewash and Dolf opted for a kick pass to the fullback who found herself out wide, but then the ball was lost over the tryline.

South Africa’s injury woes continued when Mdliki needed attention, the replacement prop for Latsha.

She was in extreme pain and had to be carried from the field on a stretcher after a bunch of people assisted on the field and play was halted for a long time.

Latsha was back on the field.

With a minute of play left, the Les Leonas were on the attack, and they were bundled out on the stroke of halftime.

In the first half, South Africa were impressive with their forwards and back play, showing they are not only a team that dominates with their forwards.

Starting off the second half, the visitors won another scrum penalty and Cilliers once more went for the corner, but didn’t find touch.

Latsha drove; then Hele went a few metres looking for their second try. But the No.8 dropped it on the try line.

*Continues below…

From a tap and go, Hele made things right and scored. Cilliers failed to convert, but South Africa were ahead 15-0.

From the kick-off, the Spaniards got inches from a fantastic try after a lovely kick pass to the corner nearly landed in the hands of the winger, but it was lost. However, they were camped five metres out, fighting for their first points in the match.

South Africa retaliated with a strong scrum, forcing the onslaught back to midfield.

The hosts sent it skyward once again, with a lineout to follow, back in the red zone.

Their lineout ball was good, but South Africa managed a turnover; however, Dolf’s clearance kick only went out ten metres away, keeping Los Leonas in with a chance.

The visitors put in a strong scrum, but in the next move, the hosts kept possession.

*To recap all the action, CLICK HERE!

After an hour of play, South Africa remained dominant as Spain repeatedly botched significant opportunities, keeping the visitors in the half of the field.

South Africa’s third try came after they were camped out a few metres out, two reset scrums and then Lamprecht drove over, but they were called back, and there was a yellow card for offside to Spain’s No.3.

Eventually Cilliers grabbed South Africa’s third try, taking their lead to 20-0 after the conversion was miss.

Approaching the final five minutes, Spain threw everything at the opposition but their efforts were laborious and inaccurate.

However, they kicked for the corner to have a last go with no points still on the scoreboard.

South Africa stole the ball, but kicking from behind the dead-ball line, a five-metre scrum followed.

Spain tried for a last-ditch effort, but alas, it was not to be and they had to contend with zero points from this encounter.

The scorers:

For South Africa:
Tries: Jacobs, Hele, Cilliers
Cons: Cilliers
Pens: Cilliers

Yellow card: Eider García (Spain, 65’ offside)

Teams

Spain: 15 Amalia Argudo; 14 Tecla Masoko, 13 Claudia Peña, 12 Amaia Erbina, 11 Claudia Cano; 10 Naroa Azpitarte, 9 Matilda Toca; 8 Valentina Pérez, 7 Nerea García, 6 Ana Peralta, 5 Lourdes Alameda (captain), 4 Carmen Castellucci, 3 Eider García; 2 Marieta Román, 1 Inés Antolínez.
Replacements: 16 Nuria Jou, 17 África Vílchez, 18 Maëlia Lapoujada, 19 Beatriz Rivera, 20 Alba Capell, 21 Anne Fernández De Corres, 22 Bingbing Vergara, 23 Lea Ducher.

South Africa: 15 Jakkie Cilliers, 14 Alichia Arries, 13 Maceala Samboya, 12 Shiniqwa Lamprecht, 11 Patience Mokone, 10 Byrhandré Dolf, 9 Unam Tose, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Lerato Makua, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Catha Jacobs, 4 Vainah Ubisi, 3 Babalwa Latsha (captain) 2 Anushka Groenewald, 1 Xoliswa Khuzwayo
Replacements: 16 Lindelwa Gwala, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19 Danelle Lochner, 20 Logan Welman, 21 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 22 Felicia Jacobs, 23 Mary Zulu

Referee: Bérénice Loubet (France)
Assistant referees: Alexandra Ferré (France), Maria Latos (Germany)
TMO: Finlay Brown (Scotland)