logo
Springbok Women experiment with Nadine Roos at scrumhalf for second Canada Test

Springbok Women experiment with Nadine Roos at scrumhalf for second Canada Test

IOL News10-07-2025
Springbok Women back Nadine Roos will play at scrumhalf in the second Test against Canada
Springboks Women Performance coach Swys de Bruin has moved Byrhandré Dolf and Eloise Webb from the bench into the starting line-up for the second Test against Canada on Saturday in Gqeberha.
The Bok Women are hoping to redeem themselves after a 50-20 thumping last week in Pretoria at the hands of the Canadians in what served as the curtain-raiser for the Springboks Men's Test against Italy.
Dolf will be playing at fullback and Webb will assume the flyhalf role for the second Test, which kicks off at 1.30pm at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. It will be the first time both players will play in those positions.
In a surprise move, Nadine Roos has also shuffled around and will play at scrumhalf instead of fullback. Libbie Janse van Rensburg will play inside centre after starting at flyhalf in Pretoria.
Upfront, Catha Jacobs will pack down on the side of the scrum, while the front five remain unchanged for the second test.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Eloise Webb ready to learn with Nadine Roos as new Bok Women halfback pairing takes shape
Eloise Webb ready to learn with Nadine Roos as new Bok Women halfback pairing takes shape

IOL News

time2 days ago

  • IOL News

Eloise Webb ready to learn with Nadine Roos as new Bok Women halfback pairing takes shape

Springbok Women's flyhalf Eloise Webb goes on the run at training on Tuesday. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane Independent Media Image: Picture: Ayanda Ndamane Independent Media Springbok Women's utility back Eloise Webb may have been flung into the deep end at flyhalf against the World No 2-ranked Canada, but she is relishing the chance to build on a potential new halfback partnership with Nadine Roos against the Black Ferns at Athlone Stadium on Saturday. The duo have travelled an extensive road together, playing for Bok 7s team before transitioning to the 15-player code, with their speed, side-stepping and agility being valuable assets. Webb has traditionally run out in the No 13 jumper, playing outside centre both for the Boks and her provincial team, the Border Bulldogs. Equally, Roos has been the last line of defence at fullback for the majority of her Bok career. Bok coach Swys de Bruin has, however, realised that arguably the team's most attacking threats cannot be that far from the ball and moved both closer to the action by slotting Roos in at scrumhalf and Webb at No 10. The #BokWomen aren't chasing comfort - they're chasing growth 💪 Next up: a clash with the Black Ferns XV in Athlone.#MakeItCount — SA Women's Rugby (@WomenBoks) July 22, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Although it was a baptism of fire against the Canadians, Webb is keen to develop the partnership further against the New Zealanders on Saturday. 'Flyhalf is a new position for me. I play 13 for the Border Bulldogs. I think I played one game (at No 10) for them. It's a fairly new position, didn't quite go as planned, so I still need to learn a lot in that position, especially about keeping calm,' Webb told reporters at the Bok training at UCT yesterday. 'But I am very excited for it. We're both excited for the new challenge. We actually played together at 7s. Our combinations are quite good.' The 29-year-old is certainly a quick learner and has already taken valuable lessons from the Canadian clash. 'I think if I can play flyhalf against the No 2 in the world, then it should become easier. I was very humbled in that position. I learned a lot,' she said. 'Someone that's been with you through the journey, through the highs and the lows'#BokWomen #PlusOne — SA Women's Rugby (@WomenBoks) July 17, 2025 'I put myself under pressure by standing too flat. Just knowing when to be a little deeper, because they had a rush defence, which put us under a bit of pressure. 'If I was deeper, then the rest of the team would have more time on the ball. It's a small thing that can make a huge difference.' De Bruin was hugely complimentary of the pairing's performance at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as he continues to work on his combinations ahead of the upcoming Women's Rugby World Cup in England. The 65-year-old has also long been a coach that empowers his players with the confidence to make their own decisions out on the park - even if it leads to the odd mistake - and Webb believes it's this environment that has allowed the team to grow. 'It is always great to have a coach that allows you to play what you see,' she said. 'We have structure, but within that structure you must see what options are open. It's great that we are allowed to play heads up rugby, either at centre or flyhalf.'

Springbok Women's forward Lerato Makua looking forward to fronting up to Black Ferns' haka
Springbok Women's forward Lerato Makua looking forward to fronting up to Black Ferns' haka

IOL News

time2 days ago

  • IOL News

Springbok Women's forward Lerato Makua looking forward to fronting up to Black Ferns' haka

Springbok Women's forward Lerato Makua holds on to the ball during training at UCT on Tuesday. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane Independent Media Facing up to the haka for any rugby player is one of the highlights of their international careers. Equally, it is one of the most unnerving and Springbok Women's forward Lerato Makua is certainly anxious about the prospect fronting up to the traditional pre-match Maori war dance ahead of the clash against the Black Ferns XV at Athlone Stadium on Saturday. 'We've seen it (the haka) on TV and we don't know how it feels when they're doing it,' Makua told the media at UCT on Tuesday. 'We know the nerves are going to be there. 'It will be another experience that we've never experienced before. But we're looking forward to it.' Makua should have nothing to worry about though. The Bulls Daisies utility forward, who hails from Mamelodi East Ext 5, has experienced much worse during a 16-month period she spent on the sidelines due to a long-term knee injury.

30 days to go: Johannes-Haupt confident Bok Women can put on good show in hometown against Black Ferns
30 days to go: Johannes-Haupt confident Bok Women can put on good show in hometown against Black Ferns

IOL News

time2 days ago

  • IOL News

30 days to go: Johannes-Haupt confident Bok Women can put on good show in hometown against Black Ferns

Springbok Women's assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt will focus heavily on the breakdown with the forwards this week. Picture: SA Rugby Image: SA Rugby Laurian Johannes-Haupt feels when she faced up to the mighty Black Ferns haka at the Women's Rugby World Cup back in 2010, the women's game was virtually unrecognisable from the high-impact professional sport it has now transformed into. The Springbok Women's assistant coach is the embodiment of the change within the game after the 40-year-old swapped her classroom at Athlone High School in Cape Town for a Bok tracksuit on a fulltime basis at the beginning of the year. Johannes-Haupt can now focus all her energies on preparing the Boks for their all-important clash against the Black Ferns XI in her hometown when the traditional rivals meet at the historic Athlone Stadium on Saturday. 'We played them in the 2010 World Cup and from where the game has gone to, there's been massive, massive improvements,' Johannes-Haupt said, on the sidelines of the Boks training at UCT on Monday. 'The game has evolved so much. The Black Ferns come with a special skill set. Their skill set is really unmatched. They play from all over the park. They have a good set piece as well. We're in for quite a good game and I think we're going to give them a good show.' The ⁦@WomenBoks⁩ working hard at UCT ahead of their match against the ⁦@BlackFerns⁩ XV at Athlone Stadium on Saturday. ⁦@IOL⁩ ⁦@IOLsport⁩ — Zaahier Adams (@ZaahierAdams) July 21, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The Black Ferns are six-times world champions and will be one of the favourites to raise the trophy a seventh time when the Women's Rugby World Cup gets underway in exactly 30 days in England next month. The Kiwis have therefore sent a second-string squad to face the 12th ranked Boks. Johannes-Haupt feels this is no less a challenge with plenty of the Black Ferns squad in Cape Town boasting Test-match experience. 'It's not the regular players, but there are quite a few capped Black Ferns in their team, as well as a few Sevens players of the Black Ferns,' she said. 'We're preparing for a proper physical encounter because we've watched their previous games, we know what to expect and we're just going to do what we need to do for the game to be successful.' The Bok Women have been preparing steadily themselves for WRWC25 with two hard-fought Test matches against No 2 ranked Canada leading up to the clashes with the Black Ferns. Springbok Women lock Vainah Ubisi is fit and firing again after an injury layoff. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix The home team showed significant improvement in the second Test, especially at the breakdown where they stalled the momentum of the Canadians. 'We definitely want to get better at the breakdown. The first game against Canada, we weren't that good at the breakdown,' Johannes-Haupt said. 'Second one, we came out sharper and now we just want to carry on with that trend going into the Black Ferns game. 'Our transitional play could also be better and that's what we're going in for. We want to transition better and want to play a more attacking brand of and finishing it. 'We definitely want to give it our best showing and want to take our good positives going into the World Cup because it's all part of the prep for the ultimate goal, the World Cup.' The Boks' chances have been boosted with the return of influential lock Vainah Ubisi, who was nominated for SA Rugby Women's Player of the Year last year, after her recovery from a serious knee injury. Johannes-Haupt feels Ubisi's contagious positive spirit has also rubbed off on the rest of the squad. 'She (Ubisi) was beaming. Beaming with excitement just to be able to be back on the park,' she said. 'Firstly, she's been waiting a long time to get back and she's been doing well. It's good to see her back in form and there's still a road ahead of her, but she's good to go. 'It's always special to have our younger ones back. She's like 23 years old. She's built a lot of experience from the WXV to where she is now, so to transition her back into the game is just special and everybody just loves having everyone around, so it's good vibes all the way.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store