The game saw the Springbok Women combine set-piece precision with attacking fluidity, thrilling a growing home crowd.
Springbok women dominate Barbarians in thrilling Cape Town clash
It was not only the Springbok men who had a good run in Cape Town this past weekend.
The Springbok Women delivered a powerful statement on Saturday with a resounding 59-17 victory over the Barbarians Women at Cape Town’s iconic DHL Stadium. This impressive performance serves as a key milestone as the team gears up for the WXV 2 tournament and next year’s Rugby World Cup.
Assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt expressed her pride in the squad’s cohesive display, commending the team for executing both forward dominance and backline flair.
“It was fantastic to see how we managed to put different phases of our play together,” said Johannes-Haupt. “The forwards laid a solid foundation, and our backs capitalised on that to score some breathtaking tries.”
The game saw the Springbok Women combine set-piece precision with attacking fluidity, thrilling a growing home crowd. Johannes-Haupt also emphasised the significance of the Barbarians’ role in helping the team sharpen their game ahead of upcoming international challenges.
“We are really grateful to the Barbarians for this opportunity as we fine-tune our preparations for WXV 2 and the Rugby World Cup. This match was a tremendous confidence boost and validated the adjustments we’ve been working on.”
Key to the team’s success was the influence of recently added coaches Swys de Bruin and Bafana Nhleko, whose expertise was evident in the side’s disciplined and creative approach.
“Their experience has made an immediate impact,” Johannes-Haupt said. “It’s early days, but today’s performance highlighted the potential within this team. Now, we need to build on this momentum heading into WXV 2.”
Team captain Nolusindiso Booi echoed the praise for the supporters and the team’s determination to deliver on home soil.
“It was worth the wait to finally play at DHL Stadium,” said Booi. “The crowd was fantastic, and I’m proud of how the team responded with a performance that showcased our talent. The forwards laid the necessary groundwork, and the backs finished off with some stunning tries.”
Booi also emphasised the importance of physicality in the game, which allowed the Springbok Women to dominate key moments and set a new standard for themselves.
“We needed to be physical today, and the hard work paid off. The backs scored some amazing tries, and this is just a glimpse of what we can achieve as we continue to improve,” Booi added.
Looking ahead, the Springbok Women will regroup on September 15 to prepare for their next Test against Spain on 19 September, also at DHL Stadium. With the home crowd’s energy fuelling their momentum, the team hopes to deliver another scintillating performance.
