VIDEO: Boks Women kick off Test season with dominant win
ROUND ONE WRAP: The Springbok Women began the defence of their Rugby Africa Cup title in emphatic fashion with a commanding 64-5 victory over Madagascar in Nairobi on Saturday.
Playing in their first Test since their historic Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against New Zealand in England, South Africa delivered a dominant display, running in 10 tries to secure the bonus-point win.
Despite being without several experienced campaigners, including Nadine Roos, Aseza Hele and Libbie Janse van Rensburg, the Bok Women produced an impressive all-round display.
There were standout performances across the park, with Anushka Groenewald and Alichia Arries particularly influential, while debutant Logan Welman enjoyed a memorable outing by scoring her first senior try.
Madagascar stunned the defending champions early on, crossing for the opening try to take a 5-0 lead after the Boks made a sluggish start.
However, South Africa settled into the contest and gradually began asserting control. Centre Jakkie Cilliers combined neatly with Nomawethu Mabenge, who made a few metres before offloading back to Cilliers, allowing her to dive over for the Boks’ opening try.
Cilliers, who was named the player of the match, added the conversion as South Africa took a 7-5 lead.
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Madagascar looked threatening whenever they spread the ball wide, but handling errors repeatedly halted their momentum.
The Boks also struggled with discipline during stages of the first half, conceding several penalties inside their own 22. Fortunately for South Africa, Madagascar failed to capitalise on the opportunities presented to them.
Instead, the Springbok Women extended their lead through a swift counterattack, with WP wing Alichia Arries diving over in the corner for the second try of the match.
South Africa’s forwards then asserted themselves through a powerful driving maul from the line-out before Border centre Aphiwe Ngwevu crashed over for the third try.
The Boks continued to dominate before the interval as Cilliers released Mary Zulu from a strong scrum platform, allowing the flyhalf to score. Cilliers added the conversion to give South Africa a comfortable 26-5 lead at half-time.
Madagascar started the second half with renewed intensity and forced the Boks onto the defensive for extended periods.
South Africa absorbed the pressure well before launching a superb attacking movement to extend their advantage to 31-5.
Madagascar’s task became even more difficult when they were reduced to 14 players, and the Springbok Women immediately capitalised as another rolling maul resulted in their sixth try of the afternoon.
Debutant Logan Welman then produced one of the moments of the match, showing outstanding pace and power to beat multiple defenders for a superb individual try. Cilliers converted to stretch the lead to 43-5.
The Boks’ bench continued to make an impact, with debutants Insaaf Levy and Thandile Mazwi combining well as Levy took a quick tap before Mazwi powered over for another score.
Thami Yeko then capitalised on a loose ball to score South Africa’s ninth try, with Cilliers once again adding the extras.
Zulu completed her brace in the closing stages before Cilliers slotted the final conversion to wrap up an emphatic 64-5 victory for the defending champions.
In the clash that followed, Kenya put Uganda to the sword with a commanding 43-10 victory.
Saturday’s results:
South Africa 64-5 Madagascar
Kenya 43-10 Uganda
