Springbok Women embrace pressure as World Cup quarter-final goal takes shape
With the goal of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time, head coach Swys de Bruin says the current run of international fixtures is critical to testing combinations, building confidence, and developing the physical and tactical edge needed to compete at the World Cup.
The Springbok Women have participated in four World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, and 2021), but have not progressed beyond the pool stages because they are yet to win a single match at the tournament.
But according to De Bruin, they'll no longer settle for just participating; they're planning to make history. Backed by SA Rugby's top leadership, including Bok coach and director of rugby Erasmus, the squad is taking major strides toward its boldest ambition yet: reaching the quarter-finals of this year's World Cup.
Coach Swys de Bruin confirmed the extent of Erasmus' personal investment in the team's journey.
'He's just 100% behind us,' said De Bruin. 'Always with positive messages. When I ran into him at the airport, we had a talk there as well. He's so excited for us and the team.'
It's a level of support that goes beyond formality. De Bruin pointed to a shared identity between the women's and men's squads.
'The DNA of the men's team in this beautiful country of ours is the same as the women's team. We like the set piece, we like the physical. There's so much similarity.'
The Springbok Women are under no illusions about the road ahead. 'We haven't won a game at the World Cup yet,' De Bruin admitted. 'Now people are talking about quarters. We want to make the quarters—but we understand the challenge.'
That challenge includes building cohesion, testing player combinations, and developing mental toughness against the world's top teams. In recent fixtures, the Springbok Women have faced elite opposition—such as Canada and Australia—not just to compete, but to benchmark progress.
'We want to be tested against the best to measure our standard,' De Bruin said. 'That's why these matches are crucial.'
De Bruin is clear that every selection and substitution is part of a bigger process. 'It's all about combinations,' he said. 'Our subs will come in as a test for combinations as well. It's a big hurdle—but the aim, we mustn't forget, is still the World Cup.'
He added that the squad's current fixtures act as building blocks toward that campaign. Confidence, discipline, and professionalism are all under the spotlight now—so they're ready when it matters most next year.
SA Rugby's visible support – including high-profile curtain raiser matches before the men's Springboks—has boosted morale and visibility. 'The ladies are suddenly role models,' said De Bruin. 'There's a big buzz going around them.'
With the World Cup less than a year away, the message from inside the camp is clear: South Africa's women are not just preparing to attend—they're preparing to compete.
And with Erasmus firmly in their corner, they believe they have the leadership, infrastructure, and belief to have a real go at this year's World Cup.
The 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup will take place from 22 August to 27 September. The tournament will be hosted by England, with matches held across various venues, including the iconic Twickenham Stadium in London.
The Springbok Women kick off their campaign against Brazil in Northampton on 24 August, followed by a clash against Italy in York a week later, on the 31st.
They will then complete their pool stage schedule with a blockbuster fixture against France in Northampton on 7 September. Pool A Pool B Pool C Pool England Canada New Zealand South Africa Australia Scotland Ireland France USA Wales Japan Italy Samoa Fiji Spain Brazil
DO YOU THINK THE SPRINGBOK WOMEN WILL MAKE IT PAST THE POOL STAGES AT THE RWC?
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