The Springbok Women will make their historic debut at the impressive DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, marking a pivotal moment in their rugby journey.
THE SPRINGBOK Women will make their historic debut at the impressive DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, marking a pivotal moment in their rugby journey.
Led by captain Nolusindiso Booi, the team is eager to match the occasion with a strong performance against the formidable Barbarians.
The encounter comes just weeks before the Springbok Women begin their WXV 2 campaign at the same venue on September 27, making Saturday’s match a prime opportunity to fine-tune systems and demonstrate their progress.
“It is great to play at this venue, especially as the Boks will follow a couple of hours later against the All Blacks,” said Booi on Friday. “Sharing the same field with the double World Cup champions is massive for our team, as we are doing our best to build an identity and brand as a team the country can be proud of.”
This match is more than just a warm-up for the Springbok Women; it marks a critical step on their road to the Rugby World Cup next year. “We are on the brink of the next step on that journey,” Booi added. “A good start tomorrow (Saturday) is huge for this group of players.”
The team has already received a morale boost ahead of the match, with Springbok captain Siya Kolisi visiting the squad during their training session. Booi expressed her gratitude for Kolisi’s support, calling it “massive and hugely inspiring”.
“Siya has always been a vocal advocate of our game. We hope his support will convince more people to come and watch us play, starting tomorrow,” Booi said.
She urged fans to arrive early for their match against the star-studded Barbarians, which kicks off at 1.30pm.
While Booi acknowledges the challenge posed by the Barbarians, she remains confident that her team is better positioned than ever before to compete at the highest level. “They gave us flames in our first game at Twickenham in 2021, but last year we were much more competitive. I think we can reverse the result this time around.”
Booi, who debuted for South Africa in 2010 and has 45 Tests under her belt, is convinced that the team is on the verge of breaking into the top tier of international rugby. “We are improving all the time. Many players are exposed to rugby so much earlier now, and we are building towards a good brand of rugby.”
Despite the challenge, Booi sees this as a key moment for the team. “The Baabaas have their style, and that is not the same as ours. Whoever can dominate will control the scoreline. We are ready to take a huge step forward on Saturday.”
Match Information:
Springbok Women vs Barbarians
Date: Saturday, September 7, 2024
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 13h30
Referee: Zoe Naude
Assistant referees: Bulela Qwane, Martie Mostert
TMO: Aimee Barrett-Theron
TV: SuperSport
With history on the line, the Springbok Women are ready to showcase their talent and give fans a glimpse of the bright future of South African women’s rugby.
