Springbok Women produce powerful display to dispatch of New Zealand's Black Ferns XV

The Springbok Women’s side produced their best performance of the season when they beat a Black Ferns XV side 41–26 at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday night.

The Bok Women, who had some tough results against Canada in a two-Test series and in the first match against the New Zealanders, put on an exhibition of power and recorded a confidence-boosting win ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup later this month.

The Springbok Women started on the front foot, climbing in with a lot of venom and verve in the opening stages of the match.

Their bullocking runners up front punched holes in the Black Ferns’ defence down the middle. The home side came close on quite a few occasions on the visitors’ line, but desperate defending saw them fall short on several occasions.

However, the Bok Women took the lead in the 14th minute when left wing Ayanda Malinga went over the line after she pounced on a loose ball before sprinting clear to dive over.

The Bok Women were just as robust on defence, putting in some big hits to tackle their New Zealand counterparts backwards in the tackle. The Black Ferns struggled to get out of their half.

The Bok Women then extended their lead in the 17th minute when fullback Byrhandré Dolf produced a magical piece of play. Dolf saw some space in behind the Black Ferns’ defence and put a kick through, before collecting her own effort and going over to score.

Outside centre Kelsey Teneti was a constant threat for the Black Ferns, and they pulled a try back to show just how dangerous they can be with ball in hand. Holly Greenway also went over in the first half for the visitors.

However, the Bok Women managed two more tries before the end of the first half, with flyhalf Libbie Janse van Rensburg and prop Yonela Ngxingolo going over to give the home side a 24–12 lead at the break.

The Springbok Women’s scrum was dominant throughout the encounter, and they got a heel against the head in the 51st minute. This led to a penalty and a lineout 10 metres out from the Black Ferns’ line.

The SA side then produced a powerful maul, with the backs also joining in. This helped returning hooker Lindelwa Gwala to force her way over for the try.

The Black Ferns started to concede penalties, as the physical South Africans again took charge. The Springbok Women decided to take a tap penalty on their opponents’ line, before smartly forming a maul for flank Lerato Makua to barge over and score.

New Zealand hit back, with Luka Connor and right wing Justine McGregor scoring after a brilliant attacking moves.

But the Bok Women would not be denied, with substitute prop Luchell Hanekom dotting down from close range with five minutes to go to give them enough breathing space to claim a morale-boosting win.

Scorers:

Springbok Women 41 (24) – Tries: Ayanda Malinga, Byrhandré Dolf, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Yonela Ngixingolo, Lindelwa Gwala, Lerato Makua, Luchell Hanekom. Conversions: Libbie Janse van Rensburg (3).

Black Ferns XV 24 (12) – Tries: Kelsey Teneti, Holly Greenway, Luka Connor, Justine McGregor. Conversions: Hannah King (2).