Springbok Women ready to counter Italian flair

Ground zero. 

That’s where the Springbok Women’s team will be starting when they face Italy in their crucial Rugby World Cup encounter against Italy on Sunday. 

The Boks are chasing a historic first-ever spot in the quarterfinals, and victory over the higher-ranked Italians would secure a passage to the playoffs, regardless of the final Pool D encounter against France. 

Swys de Bruin’s team are brimming with confidence after their 66-6 demolition of South American debutants Brazil in their tournament opener, but are fully aware that the Europeans pose an altogether different challenge. 

"It was a great start. It's just a sad thing about our sport, knowing that whatever we have done in the last weekend does not matter this weekend. [We're] reminding ourselves to start back from zero again," said Springbok Women’s outside centre Zintle Mpupha.

"We've played them once. They brought the flair. 

"They're (Italy) a very skilful team. We've played them once before. They brought the flair. 

"But we're just really focusing on ourselves as much as we can. And know what we're going to bring as a team."

Mpupha may not have been one of the 10 try scorers against Brazil, but she was heavily involved in the build-ups, forming a potent partnership with centre partner and Player of the Match Aphiwe Ngwevu. 

The No 13 is hoping the Boks can maintain this free-scoring momentum against the Italians.

"I think all the tries were from teamwork and obviously we have very beautiful ball runners as well," Mpupha said.

"I think that comes from the structure of the team to actually put those people into spaces. With that momentum from the past week we're going to hopefully continue with it into this weekend."

The Boks also took out a page of the Springbok Men’s playbook by clearing their bench in the 50th minute by unleashing their own version of the famed "Bomb Squad" and Mpupha feels the depth in their match-day squad could once again prove to be a deciding factor.

"I think the Bomb Squad is a thing from the men's team that just goes well with the women's team. It's just like the energy, the vibes that they bring coming in with fresh legs," she said.

"The Bomb Squad are slotting in well with the ladies team as well."

The Boks have never before faced the Italians at the Rugby World Cup, having only previously faced the Azzurre in three Tests. The last two meetings, both at the WXV 2 in Cape Town, were particularly close affairs with last year’s clash being decided by a margin of just four points.

Italy are also still smarting from a 24-0 defeat to France in their opening game with the Boks hoping to eliminate their opponents in York on Sunday.