VIDEO: Bok Women need the fans for Baabaas clash

VIDEO: Experienced centre Zintle Mpupha is appealing to fans going to the stadium in Cape Town on Saturday for the Rugby Championship to turn out in numbers early in the day to support the women as they take on the Barbarians.

The Springbok Women’s team faces the Baabaas in a warm-up game in preparation for the WXV that kicks off in Cape Town in a fortnight.

Mpupha, who has scored 101 points in 20 Tests, it was a privilege to play in the curtain raiser fo the Springboks.

“We would love to have the same support as the guys, or similar support.

“Playing ahead of them is really special for us and I am hoping that people will come out early and come and support the girls as much as they support the guys,” Mpupha said.

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

They will have to prepare without Swys de Bruin however, as the newly appointed performance coach fell ill on Sunday and will not join the squad this week. De Bruin will continue to guide the rest of the coaching staff virtually.

According to assistant coach, Franzel September, the team’s approach on Monday, their first training day of the week, was positive with clear goals on what to achieve before they run out at the Cape Town Stadium this weekend.

“This week is all about ourselves – we want to get our systems right and make sure that come Saturday, we are all aligned and ready to go,” said September.

“We have a new coaching staff and we aligned well in the two-week camp we had in Gqeberha, and this week will be all about implementing the things we want to get out of the match.

“It is no use to focus on our opponents, we need to focus on ourselves and what we want to get out of this game, which is played in preparation for the WXV 2 later this month.”

Although they are excited to play against a star-studded opposition, September said they will not be carried away by the occasion: “We cannot be them, we are the Springbok Women. We have our own style and strengths and will have to enforce that style on them.

“The Baabaas are known for an adventurous approach and taking the ball wide and I don’t think anything will be different this time around. We need to be ready and much of the week will be about arriving with the right mind set and game plan at the game on Saturday.”

September points to the fact that they will share the same field as the Springboks on the same day they play the All Blacks.

“That is massive for us and a huge honour to share this day with the Boks, but they are not going to play for us, we need to go out there and get the job done ourselves,” he said.

“We have an opportunity to showcase our talents on the same field as the Boks and want to show that we indeed deserve that opportunity. This match will give us a good idea of where we are and what is still needed before WXV starts.”

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Mpupha said her focus has now moved firmly back to fifteens after returning from the Olympic Games and playing on the HSBC SVNS circuit with the Springbok Women’s Sevens team.

“I have done it before and by now, the transition process works for me,” said Mpupha. “It is the same field and the same ball, you just have more people to contend with in fifteens.”

The experienced centre is keen to give the remainder of the season a full go: “The Olympics was great and it was a goal reached, but that is something of the past now. I had a nice break after the Games and returned refreshed and ready.

“I do have some experience and hope that the rest of the team can benefit from that. Having said that, I still have a lot to learn myself and want to contribute on the field in any way the coaches see fit.”

*The game between the Springbok Women and the Barbarians kicks off at 13.30 (11.30 GMT).

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The best tries from @womenboks so far 🇿🇦#HSBCSVNS pic.twitter.com/vqATvQlLCv

— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) April 24, 2024