Continued gains for Bok women in Rugby World Cup preparation

The Springbok Women’s squad continues to make strides in their Rugby World Cup preparation, with the team’s second alignment camp in Pretoria yielding positive results.

Over three days, a squad of 33 players gathered to refine their set pieces, general play, and defensive structures, laying the groundwork for the road to England later this year.

Assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt expressed satisfaction with the outcomes, emphasising the importance of these sessions in embedding the team’s strategic approach.

“There is a lot of preparation to do as we slowly but surely get into the Rugby World Cup mindset, so these camps are great to have the players understand that road to England better,” Johannes-Haupt said. “We go into a lot of detail and dissect every aspect of play to make sure the players understand why we do things.”

With experience both as a former Springbok Women’s player at the 2010 Rugby World Cup and as part of the coaching staff in New Zealand at the previous tournament, Johannes-Haupt highlighted the improved preparation process.

“We are fortunate to have very good access to the players this year, and that helps a lot,” she noted. “They are also involved in the Women’s Premier Division that kicked off a few weeks ago, which also helps us to keep an eye on their form. That competition is also like trial matches for us, as we can judge contenders coming up against each other. The Premier Division also affords the players the opportunity to play often, and that improves their game even more.”

National team captain Nolusindiso Booi echoed the sentiment, emphasising the significance of the upcoming World Cup and the team’s desire to be at their peak.

“This is such a massive year for women’s rugby, and we all want to be part of that group that will represent South Africa at the Rugby World Cup in England,” Booi said. “These camps are great as they give us that sense of purpose towards the World Cup. Each player gets the opportunity to work with the coaches and learn what is needed by them for the team to play at its maximum ability. It is great to be part of that process.”

The Bok Women’s preparations are in full swing, with the alignment camps and competitive game time in the Premier Division providing a solid platform for players to showcase their skills. As the countdown to the Rugby World Cup continues, the coaching staff and players remain focused on their goal of making a strong impact on the global stage.