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 De Bruin Embracing “Exciting” Women Boks Gig 

  • September 16, 2024
  • 4 min read
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 De Bruin Embracing “Exciting” Women Boks Gig 

Newly appointed Springbok Women’s performance coach, Swys de Bruin said he’s relishing the opportunity of leading the women’s team in what has been described as a “new era” in South African women’s rugby leading into next year’s World Cup in England. 

 The former Springbok attack coach was unveiled last month with his coaching staff which features Laurian Johannes-Haupt, Bafana Nhleko, and Franzel September. 

“When I got the opportunity I thought ‘What am I letting myself into’, but it’s been fantastic,” De Bruin said during a press conference in Cape Town. 

 “The girls are a great bunch of players and have been soaking up everything we’ve been teaching them so well. 

“In terms of the management, I have known Bafana for many years, he’s a great coach and I’m also happy to be working with coach Laurian and Franzel, they know the system and the girls so well, and it’s a fantastic opportunity.” 

The quartet’s first assignment will be to get the team in top shape ahead of the World Rugby WXV 2 competition which takes place in Cape Town this month. 

 In preparation for the tournament, De Bruin’s side played a warm-up match against the Barbarians earlier this month, thumping them 59-17 at DHL Stadium in what was a curtain-raiser for the Springboks versus New Zealand rugby championship clash. 

This coming Thursday, they’ll conclude their preparations with a second clash against Spain at the same venue. On Monday, De Bruin announced his match-day squad which featured two changes to the starting line-up that faced the Barbars. 

 Libbie Janse van Rensburg and Azisa Mkiva have both earned places in the starting line-up while Roseline Botes, Catha Jacobs, and Shaunique Hess have been included in the bench. Janse van Rensburg slots in at fullback, while Nadine Roos retains the 10 jumper. De Bruin said it’s a combination they’re testing out. “It’s early days, the whole plan is to do well at the World Cup next year,” he said. 

 “In my coaching career, I’ve always believed the 9-10-15 combination is very important. The way Libbie (Janse van Rensburg) calls the play from 15 it’s almost a comparison to the Willie Le Roux and Handre Pollard combination we had in the World Cup.

“I see some similarities there, at the moment, it’s not just about picking a team to play Spain, it’s about thinking forward, and that’s a combination we want to look at.” 

The two teams will be meeting for the second time this year. In March, they played a test match in Valladolid which the Women Boks won 15-13. Kick-off at DHL Stadium on Thursday is at 17:00. 

Springbok Women’s team to face Spain in Cape Town: 

15. Libbie Janse van Rensburg (Bulls Daisies) – 22 caps, 199 points (10 tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalty goals, 1 drop goal) 14. Jakkie Cilliers (Bulls Daisies) – 13 caps, 68 points (7 tries, 12 conversions, 3 penalty goals) 13. Eloise Webb (Border Ladies) – 10 Tests, 30 points (6 tries) 12. Chumisa Qawe (Bulls Daisies) – 15 Tests, 15 points (3 tries) 11. Ayanda Malinga (Bulls Daisies) – 8 Tests, 50 points (10 tries) 10. Nadine Roos (unattached) – 11 caps, 25 points (5 tries) 9. Tayla Kinsey (Sharks Women) – 35 caps, 48 points (2 tries, 16 conversions, 2 penalty goals) 8. Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 21 caps, 40 points (8 tries) 7. Sinazo Mcatshulwa (DHL Western Province) – 31 caps, 45 points (9 tries) 6. Sizophila Solontsi (Bulls Daisies) – 21 caps, 40 points (8 tries) 5. Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daisies) – 14 caps, 10 points (2 tries) 4. Nolusindiso Booi (captain, DHL Western Province) – 45 caps, 10 points (2 tries) 3. Azisa Mkiva (DHL Western Province) – 9 caps, 0 points 2. Lindelwa Gwala (Ealing Trailfinders Women) – 32 caps, 60 points (12 tries) 1. Sanelisiwe Charlie (Bulls Daisies) – 18 caps, 5 points (1 try) 

 Replacements: 16. Roseline Botes (DHL Western Province) – 19 caps, 45 points (9 tries) 17. Yonela Ngxingolo (Bulls Daisies) – 28 caps, 10 points (2 tries) 18. Babalwa Latsha (Harlequins Women) – 29 caps, 25 points (5 tries) 19. Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) – 12 caps, 10 points (2 tries) 20. Catha Jacobs (Leicester Tigers Women) – 15 caps, 5 points (1 try) 21. Felicia Jacobs (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 5 Tests, 5 points (1 try) 22. Zintle Mpupha (Bulls Daisies) – 20 Tests, 101 points (19 tries, 3 conversions) 23. Shaunique Hess (DHL Western Province) – 5 caps, 10 points (2 tries)

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Avuyile Sawula

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