In what marked a historic moment, South Africa’s national women’s rugby team faced a formidable challenge as they were knocked out of the Women’s Rugby World Cup at the quarter-final stage. The Springbok Women encountered the reigning champions, New Zealand’s Black Ferns, in a high-octane clash at Sandy Park in Exeter, where they ultimately succumbed to a 46-17 defeat.
The match started with New Zealand demonstrating their rugby prowess, scoring 15 points in less than 10 minutes. A quick succession of tries from Sorensen-McGee, Renee Holmes, and Kaipo Olsen-Baker sent a defining message about their status, having won the World Cup six times previously. However, the Springbok Women, under pressure from the outset, remained focused and resilient, putting up a valiant fight against the experienced Black Ferns.
South Africa opened the scoring with a well-executed try from Babalwa Latcha, igniting a spark of hope among their supporters. This initial surge showcased the team’s determination, as they displayed their trademark physicality and strong set pieces. Soon after, New Zealand struck back, with Theresa Setefano capitalising on a South African mistake to level the scores. Under pressure, the Black Ferns built momentum, but just as it began to look dire, the Bok Women stood firm, earning another try through Apiwe Ngwevu, ending the first half at a competitive 10 points each.
However, the tables turned dramatically in the second half. The Black Ferns unleashed a whirlwind attack, scoring four tries in the opening 13 minutes, dictating the pace and exploiting defensive lapses by the Springbok Women. With the score ballooning to 39-10, it became clear that South Africa was struggling to contend with the relentless assault. Despite a late consolation try from Lerato Makua, the damage had been done, and New Zealand added two further tries in the dying minutes to secure their place in the semi-finals.
This quarter-final was historic for the Springbok Women, marking their first appearance at this stage of the tournament. While they faced a setback, their performance showcased the progress made in women’s rugby in South Africa. The team displayed commendable resilience and skill, offering much to build upon in future competitions. As the Black Ferns continue their title defence, the Springboks hope to learn from this experience and pave their way towards becoming contenders in the rugby world.