Bok Women beat Italy to nail down historic first World Cup quarterfinal berth

The Springbok Women have made history by winning two matches at a Women’s Rugby World Cup for the first time, as well as sealing a quarterfinals spot for the first time after a 29-24 win over Italy on Sunday.

It was also their first win over Le Azzurre, with a victory that was a year in the making, constructed on the back of a dominant pack.

Head coach Swys de Bruin was appointed in August last year, and the team’s ambition was laid out bluntly: beat Italy at the Women’s Rugby World Cup and make history.

This was the Springbok Women’s “World Cup final” because their entire campaign had been geared towards beating Italy.

Although De Bruin and his players never said it publicly, beating Brazil was a virtual foregone conclusion. Their third match is against France, the fourth-ranked team. Again, they haven’t said it, but they know that victory over Les Bleus would rank as a massive upset.

So, it all came down to match two against Italy. The tears that flowed at the final whistle revealed how much it meant and how much pressure the Bok Women had put themselves under.

Whatever happens from here, they have achieved their stated objective. Anything else is a bonus.

“This is absolutely amazing,” Bok flyhalf Libbie Janse van Rensburg said. “We had a job, we said we were going to be direct. This [win] is massive. We spoke about changing history in South Africa for women’s rugby, and today we did that.”

Good start

Their opening task against Brazil, who they beat 66-6 last weekend, was always going to be the easier one, given that it was the South American side’s debut at the tournament.

South Africa tackled the challenge of upsetting the world’s seventh-ranked Italy (SA are 12th) as if they were the favourites, taking an early 17-5 lead thanks to a fast, direct start.

But Italy kept clawing their way back, twice equalling the score.

They very nearly did it at the death as well, but quick reflexes to dot the ball down behind her own tryline by Nadine Roos before the approaching Italians could strike, then a clever goalline drop-out by flyhalf Janse van Rensburg – which ensured play ended immediately – saw South Africa home.

Momentum shifted throughout the encounter, but South Africa had it all initially.

South Africa’s chase for destiny began as well as it could have with the hat-trick hero from their opening match against Brazil, No 8 Aseza Hele, dotting down within two minutes of kick-off.

South Africa’s rumbling scrum set the platform, as it so often does, with the No 8 collecting the ball at the base of the scrum, putting her head down and darting for the tryline, with no Italian able to stop her.

Janse van Rensburg orchestrated proceedings in front of her brilliantly at flyhalf. After a couple of phases of the South African forwards bashing it up, she threw a beautiful dummy switch which opened up the Italian defence before drawing in the final defender and flicking the ball inside to a supporting Roos, who extended South Africa’s lead.

While leading 12-5, South Africa were rewarded with a penalty just inside their own half.

Instead of kicking for touch and setting up a driving maul within Italy’s half, as so many other teams would do in that position, they opted to scrum.

Their powerful setpiece set up an opportunity for the backline to unleash a move rehearsed many times in practice, with Janse van Rensburg slinging it left to Zintle Mpupha, who in turn tipped it inside to hard-running Roos, who found herself through the defensive line, splitting the Italians open.

Roos drew the last defender and whipped the ball out wide to a galloping Ayanda Malinga, who went over untouched.

Despite the ascendancy by South Africa, they offered soft shoulders on defence, with Italy going over for tries a couple of minutes either side of Malinga’s wonder score.

Italy, in contrast, offered up resolute defence. South Africa built pressure through 18 phases of direct pick-and-goes on the stroke of halftime.  They bashed away, taking the ball to 5m from the Italian tryline before an obstruction brought an end to the attack, and the half.

Tight finish

Italy took that momentum-stopper into the second half – helped by several unforced errors by South Africa – to score early and tie the scores 17-17.

South Africa made several changes by the 50th minute, and the impact of replacement centre Aphiwe Ngwevu was promptly felt. Her hard running provided significant front-foot ball.

Italy, though, for a second time in the match, fought their way back to 24-24 with 12 minutes to play through their relentless forwards as prop Sara Seye carried two defenders over the tryline.

South Africa, though, bashed it forward and kept it tight with the eight players up front. Flanker Sinazo Mcatshulwa went over in the corner to give the Bok Women the lead again. This time, they didn’t let it go.

It was a jittery finish, with the Springboks allowing Italy back in, but they did just enough to hold on and claim the historic win.

South Africa complete the group games against France next week. The loser is likely to face reigning champions, New Zealand’s Black Ferns, in the quarterfinals. DM

 Scorers:

South Africa – Tries: Aseza Hele, Ayanda Malinga, Nadine Roos, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Sizophila Solontsi. Conversions: Byrhandre Dolf (2).

Italy – Tries: Francesca Sgorbini, Vittoria Minuzzi, Sara Seye, Vittoria Vecchini. Conversions: Beatrice Rigoni, Michaela Sillari.