'Trust the process and the Loftus bounce' says Bok Women kicker ahead of Canada clash

Springbok Women and Bulls Daisies goal-kicking specialist Jakkie Cilliers is quietly confident ahead of Saturday’s historic Test match against Canada at Loftus Versfeld, citing the familiar altitude, home crowd, and her renewed form with the boot as key advantages.

Cilliers, who has become a familiar figure at the iconic Pretoria stadium in Bulls colours, now hopes to make her mark in green and gold at Loftus, a venue where she’s lined up countless kicks in blue, but never yet for her country.

“I’m kicking well again,” said the composed Cilliers. “I went through a bit of a tough patch, but on our recent European tour, coach Swys de Bruin helped tweak one small thing, and suddenly everything clicked again. Now I’m back to striking them from all over the park.”

Cilliers was part of the Springbok Women side that suffered a painful 66-7 defeat to the Canadians in Madrid two years ago. This time, she believes the conditions and their preparation offer a chance to rewrite that result.

“Loftus isn’t an easy place to play if you’re unfamiliar with the altitude,” she explained. “It catches up with you quickly. We’re planning to use that to our advantage, especially since Canada has had to travel far and may not be as adjusted to it.”

Cilliers also pointed to her deep understanding of the Loftus pitch as a potential game-changer.

“Most of our team knows the surface. We know how the ball bounces, how it grips or slips underfoot, and in Test rugby, those small margins matter. It’s the kind of edge that could help us push over the line.”

The 26-year-old is a perfectionist in her craft and hopes to have a chance to make up for a missed penalty attempt during that heavy loss in Madrid. Saturday could provide her with the perfect stage for redemption.

A student of the game, Cilliers also does her homework off the field. “I follow some of Canada’s players on Instagram, especially Alexandra Tessier,” she said with a smile. “She’s a left-footed kicker too, and I’ve watched her a lot when her club played Harlequins, Leicester, or Ealing. It gives me some insight into her style.”

She also leans on the experience of teammates who ply their trade in England, where many Canadians also play. “That kind of shared knowledge is valuable. It reminds us just how strong Canada is, ranked second in the world for good reason, but we’ve laid out a plan. We know what we’re up against.”

Cilliers is under no illusions about the challenge ahead but feels the Springbok Women are better equipped than ever to take it on.

“We’re not naive. Canada have stars across the park, and they click well as a unit. But come Saturday, with our crowd behind us and the altitude in our lungs, we believe we can surprise them.”

In a late adjustment to the South African squad, experienced hooker Roseline Botes has been drafted in to replace Lindelwa Gwala, who was ruled out. Botes, who featured in the 2022 Rugby World Cup and boasts 23 Test caps with 45 points to her name, joined the team in Johannesburg on Monday afternoon and brings added experience and stability to the forward pack.

With a blend of home-ground advantage, strategic preparation, and individual ambition driving them forward, Cilliers and her teammates are aiming to put on a performance that inspires, and beyond that, also makes history.

The clash against Canada will be only the second time the Springbok Women play at Loftus Versfeld, a venue rich in South African rugby heritage, and the team is eager to turn the occasion into something special.

“Trust the process,” Cilliers said. “And trust the Loftus bounce.”