Springbok women’s rugby team suffers heavy loss to Canada
The Springbok women's rugby team were taught a chastening lesson, despite fightback, in a big loss to Canada in their world cup preparation test match.
The Springbok women’s rugby team wrapped up a crucial phase of their world cup preparation, with a high-stakes clash against world number two, Canada, at Loftus Versfeld on July 5.
The Springbok team showed a display littered with mistakes and penalties. The second-ranked Canadians punched holes in the South Africans’ defence early on, putting the Bok women on the back foot from the start., resulting in a 50–20 loss.
The defeat followed an intensive training camp held at Redhill School’s Outspan Fields from June 30 to July 4, where the squad fine-tuned key combinations and tested strategies under the guidance of head coach Swys de Bruin.
Also read: Springboks women’s rugby team holds intensive training camp ahead of test match against Canada
Speaking with the Sandton Chronicle ahead of the game, De Bruin described the decision to face a top-tier opponent as deliberate and necessary. “We had the choice of playing someone lower ranked, maybe number eight, nien, or 10 in the world, but we chose number two, Canada, because we want to be tested against the best. This game is massive. It’s almost in the class of a world cup match, and we’re very happy that Canada flew all the way here. It’s a big occasion for our girls.”
Canada entered the match after strong performances against Australia, the Black Ferns, and the USA. De Bruin described the visitors physicality, strong kicking game, and skilled set pieces as key threats. “They love their mauls, their nine and 15 have big boots, and they’re a very skilled side.
“For us, this is all about preparation and building blocks for the world cup. We’ve never won a game at the world cup, and now people are starting to talk about reaching the quarters. That’s a big leap, but this match will help us measure where we are.”
Also read: Springbok women’s rugby team inspires local schoolgirls during training visit
Team player Aseza Hele spoke about the importance of staying focused on their own game plan, despite the pressure of playing against a top-ranked opponent. “We told ourselves to focus on us, and what works for us. We know they’re good, but we want to play our game, master our set pieces, and improve our attacking dimension. I love attack. I always say, I’d rather win 45–43 than 10–9.”
Talking with the Sandton Chronicle post match, Hele said: “Losing isn’t the end. It’s a lesson. We’re undermined by many, but we enjoy proving people wrong. Our focus now is on continuing to improve, build confidence, and prepare for the future.”
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We’d love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts!
