Two tries in the final quarter were unfortunately not enough for the Springbok Women’s team to beat the Wallaroos from Australia.  The Bok women lost 33-26 at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon. 

Flank Siokapesi Palu opened the scoring in the fourth minute for the visitors and it took the Aussies just four minutes to extend their lead to 14-0 when outside centre Georgina Friedrichs finished off a break from wing Maya Stewart.

‘Bok Women were not done yet’

South Africa finally got on the board thanks to an unconverted maiden Test try by scrumhalf Unam Tose. Australia scored their third try three minutes later when prop Eva Karpani scored under the poles, but the Bok Women were not done yet and with less than 10 minutes to go before halftime, flanker Sinazo Mcatshulwa crashed over for their second try.

The South Africans were still in the game at 21-12 down at halftime, and a yellow card for Australian replacement lock Atasi Lafai gave the hosts hope. But it was the Australians who scored in the first 15 minutes of the half, courtesy of wingers Desiree Miller and Maya Stewart pushing the Wallaroos' lead to 33-12.

Siya Kolisi and Swys de Bruin. Photo SA Rugby 

Spurred on by Bok captain Siya Kolisi, South Africa refused to go quietly and after a period of sustained pressure in the Aussie half, centre Zintle Mpupha finally crashed over with Nadine Roos converting to make it 33-19 with seven minutes left on the clock. Micke Gunter’s try off the back of a brilliant maul and Roos’s conversion made it a seven point game in the 79th minute, but another penalty against the Bok women sealed the deal for Australia.

After the match, Bok coach Swys de Bruin, was full of praise for his team, saying they were still a work in progress as they prepare for next year’s Rugby World Cup in England. “They showed tremendous guts out there and that made me very, very proud,” said De Bruin.

“They just refused to accept defeat and the fact that we came a meter short of squaring the match showed the determination. We were literally a pass away from that final try after being seemingly down and out with 15 minutes to play. Much credit must go to the players, who just refused to lie down.”

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg