Wales beat Bok Women to end one-year long losing run
MATCH REPORT: The Springbok Women were handed a harsh rugby lesson, suffering a 50-19 defeat to Wales in the WXV Global Series at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday.
The Springbok Women arrived in Cardiff as favourites but were outplayed and outwitted from kick-off, with Wales scoring eight tries to three to secure a comprehensive victory.
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Sisilia Tuipulotu bagged a brace of tries and was a deserving Rugby365 Player of the Match.
The result handed the Springbok Women their second consecutive defeat, following their loss to the Black Ferns on September 5 during the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test Series.
For Wales, this was their first victory since July 2025, ending a year-long losing run.
Sean Lynn’s side will take on the USA next, while the Bok Women will face Italy.
It was a ferocious start to the game, with prop Sisilia Tuipulotu making a strong run as Wales immediately put the Springbok Women under pressure.
The Wales pack made some strong carries before Keira Bevan’s loop pass went out wide, allowing Courtney Knight to go over for the opening try. Freya Bell added the conversion to give Wales a 7-0 lead.
Wales were in fine form as Lisa Neumann found space out wide before the powerful Tuipulotu burst over for her team’s second try. Bell added the extra two points to extend the lead to 14-0.
The Springboks managed to pull one back. Scrumhalf Felicia Jacobs picked up a loose ball at the back of a powerful scrum before dotting down for the try. Byrhandre Dolf missed the conversion.
The celebration was short-lived, however, as the Springbok Women were reduced to 14 players when Lindelwa Gwala was handed a yellow card.
Wales again found space out wide before Seren Lockwood added another five points to put the hosts 19-5 ahead.
The Springboks’ defence was in disarray and missed a few tackles, allowing Maisie Davies to go over for Wales’ fourth try. Bell added the conversion to make it 26-5.
The Welsh continued to dominate, with Kelsie Jones adding their fifth try of the match. Bell added the extras as Wales extended their advantage to 31-5.
Things went from bad to worse for the Bok Women when Danelle Lochner was handed a yellow card for a high tackle.
Logan Welman then made a break, but a knock-on halted the attack and handed Wales another opportunity. They took full advantage, with lethal runner Lisa Neumann making a break before dotting down for a try, taking them to a commanding 38-5 lead into half-time.
It was more of the same for the Boks Women after they learned that Lochner’s yellow card had been upgraded to a red.
And it was just too easy for Wales as Tuipulotu powered through for her second try of the evening.
The Springboks finally made some headway and got into the Welsh half. After several phases, Felicia Jacobs shifted the ball wide before speedster Maria Tshiremba beat two defenders to score the visitors’ second try. Dolf added the difficult conversion for the seven points.
It was end-to-end stuff from the Boks, created by Aphiwe Ngwevu. The Springbok Women broke through the Wales defence before Macala Samboya went over for the third try. Dolf added the conversion.
The Springboks were eager to get the ball in hand, but individual errors halted much of their momentum.
Instead, it was Wales who scored next. With the phases reaching double figures, flanker Alex Callender eventually powered over in the corner to make it 50-19 for the comprehensive victory.
Player of the match: There were plenty of standout performers in the Welsh side, with Lisa Neumann a constant threat on the counter-attack and Alex Callender putting in a huge shift at the breakdown. But the nod goes to Sisilia Tuipulotu. The powerful prop was a nightmare for the Boks defence, repeatedly punching holes with her strong carries and capping a dominant display with two tries.
The scorers:
For Wales:
Tries: Knight, Tuipulotu 2, Lockwood, Davies, K. Jones, Neumann, Callender
Cons: Bell 5
For South Africa:
Tries: Jacobs, Tshiremba, Samboya
Cons: Dolf 2
Yellow cards: Lindelwa Gwala (South Africa, 21 – infringements).
Red card: Danelle Lochner (South Africa, 35 – hight tackle)
Teams:
Wales: 15 Lisa Neumann, 14 Seren Singleton, 13 Courtney Knight, 12 Freya Bell, 11 Amy Williams, 10 Keira Bevan, 9 Seren Lockwood, 8 Bryonie King, 7 Alex Callender, 6 Kate Williams, 5 Georgia Evans, 4 Branwen Metcalfe, 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 2 Kelsey Jones, 1 Maisie Davies
Replacements: 16 Shanelle Williams, 17 Gwenllian Pyrs, 18 Elan Jones, 19 Gwen Crabb, 20 Jorja Aiono, 21 Alisha Joyce, 22 Lleucu George, 23 Jenna de Vera.
Springbok Women: 15 Byrhandré Dolf, 14 Maria Tshiremba, 13 Maceala Samboya, 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 11 Ayanda Malinga, 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Felicia Jacobs, 8 Logan Welman, 7 Catha Jacobs, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Danelle Lochner, 4 Vainah Ubisi, 3 Babalwa Latsha, (captain),2 Lindelwa Gwala, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie,
Replacements: 16 Micke Gunter, 17 Xoliswa Khuzwayo, 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19 Nomsa Mokwai, 20 Aseza Hele, 21 Sinelitha Noxeke, 22 Jakkie Cilliers, 23 Patience Mokone
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ruairidh Campbell (Scotland), Rebecca Piddlesden (England)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)
