Physicality pays off: Springbok Women's shift in tactics delivers
Image: Henk Kruger Independent Media
Performance coach Swys de Bruin admitted that a shift in the Springbok Women's approach after half-time bore fruit as they came close to a come-from-behind win against the Black Ferns XV at Athlone Stadium on Saturday.
South Africa were more direct and physical in the second half, keeping the ball tight and employing crash-ball tactics after being outplayed in the opening 40 minutes.
'We simply did not get going in the first half, but I have to give credit to the team for the way they adapted in the second half, where we created numerous chances,' De Bruin said after the 34–26 defeat to the New Zealanders, who led 20–12 at the break.
'If we did not have one of our tries disallowed at a crucial stage in the second half, who knows what could have happened at the end.'
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
Powering up
The Bok defence conceded four tries in the first half and only two in the second, with the South Africans gaining momentum through a more confrontational approach and the impact of a strong bench.
'We made a call at half-time to change our approach and play more direct, and that worked for us tonight,' said De Bruin. 'It was a night where we needed physicality and the shortest route forward, and we almost managed to turn the result around, something that I am very pleased about. It is all part of the learning curve as we head to the Rugby World Cup next month.
'We had some combinations that worked earlier in the season, like in the match against Spain where we scored several backline tries. But tonight we needed physical ball-carriers, and those combinations were better suited against a very skilful Black Ferns XV.'
Swys de Bruin: 'We made a call at half-time to change our approach and play more direct, and that worked for us' - more here: https://t.co/TYtrFfh9rM 🗣#BokWomen #MakeItCount pic.twitter.com/UgXnmluQdp — SA Women's Rugby (@WomenBoks) July 26, 2025
Leading from the front
One of those who embraced the change in tactics was captain and No 8 Babalwa Latsha, who scored one of the Bok Women's four tries.
She said the players were comfortable with a more forward-driven strategy.
'We don't mind that at all – we are good in close-range rugby where we can use our physicality,' said Latsha.
'But the Black Ferns deserve credit as they showed good skills on a windy afternoon, and they really used their scoring opportunities well. Not so much for us – we created a lot of chances but didn't take them all, and that will again be a work-on for us this week.'
It remains to be seen whether the Springboks will stick with the direct strategy when the sides meet again at the same venue next weekend – their final official outing before the World Cup.
'We wanted these games to see what we need to do better or where we are doing well, so next weekend will be that final test for the team and the combinations,' said De Bruin. 'I am very proud of our effort in that second half and the clarity that gave the coaching staff.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
10 hours ago
- The South African
Siwelele FC boss brags about being Minister Gayton's son
Despite shying away from his father's last name, Calvin Le John introduced himself as the son of Minister of Sport, Art and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, after addressing supporters of his newly acquired football club, Siwelele. The businessman- the firstborn of the former convict – recently purchased the club, previously Supersport United, for R50 million in a closed business deal. In his first speech, Siwelele FC's new boss introduced himself to the club's supporters. 'I am Calvin Le John, the firstborn of the Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie', he told a crowd of football fans at their general meeting last week. Calvin touched on his relationship with Gayton, and their love of the Bloemfontein Celtic club – nicknamed Siwelele – which later became Royal AM. 'On the day I was born, my father was sentenced to 17 years [for armed robbery]. From the day I was born until the age of 10, the only connection we had was through the visitors' section at Grootvlei [prison]. Becoming emotional, he added: 'In my family, one of the only things that brought us happiness was Siwelele'. @l_keezy021 Gayton McKenzie's son Calvin Le John donates R100,000 to supporters and gives his first speech as the Chairman of Siwelele football club in Bloemfontein #southafricatiktok #gaytonmckenzie #gayton #latestnews #incaseyoumissedit #southafricantiktok🇿🇦 #southafricatiktok🇿🇦 #fyp #fypageシ ♬ original sound – L_Keezy021 Since Calvin Le John acquired Siwelele FC, many South Africans have accused Gayton McKenzie of having a hand in the closed business deal. Others claim he would use his position as Minister of Sport to further the club's interests. Responding to the rumours, Gayton said in a Facebook Live: 'People act like we took money from under our mattress and we just went to go buy a club. Gayton McKenzie has heaped praise on his son, Calvin Le John. Images via Facebook 'He bought it, I'm not part of the company….There's no consortium, he owns 100% of the company alone'. Gayton added, 'I'm very proud of him. He doesn't want to trade on McKenzie's name; that shows you he is different.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
15 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Disappointment for SA swimmers on opening day of Singapore world champs
Gallagher wasn't too pleased with her swim, but happy with the speed shown in her opening 50 metres. 'I didn't realise that I had turned third, that's really cool, so I'm very happy with my front-end speed,' she said after the race. 'I think it's the fastest I've been out in the 100 before and it felt very comfortable and very chilled, so I think that's a very good sign for the 50, which is still in a couple of days. 'I just have to switch off from the race. Even though it didn't go the way I wanted it to, there are some good things to take away and look forward to the rest of the racing which is the 100 free and the 50 fly. 'There's still a long way to go. It's day one of the competition so I'm looking forward to the rest of my races and we'll see what we can produce. Hopefully the 50 fly will be a better outcome than this one.' Other South Africans in action in the heats earlier in the day were Aimee Canny, who finished 19th overall in the 200m individual medley heats after swimming a time of 2:12.70 and Chris Smith, who finished 25th overall in the 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:00.85. Hannah Robertson was 27th in the 400m freestyle heats in 4:22.69, while in the men's event, Matthew Caldwell was 39th in 4:01.45. The South African women's 4x100m freestyle relay team of twin sisters, Georgia and Olivia Nel, Cailtin de Lange and Hannah Robertson finished sixth in their heat in 3:45.33 and did not progress to the final. The World Aquatics Championships in Singapore continue on Monday, with Pieter Coetzé kicking off his campaign in the 100m backstroke while Meder will be back in action in the 100m breaststroke, Matt Sates in the 200m freestyle, and Catherine van Rensburg in the 1500m freestyle.
The Star
15 hours ago
- The Star
'You gave me a chance, I ran with it' – teen Olympian pays it forward
I nearly didn't make it, says star teenage sprinter Bayanda Walaza " I truly felt afraid of losing my future." Bayanda Walaza, the world's fastest teenager, remembers the moment when he overheard a conversation about what it would take to attend a top school that could nurture his sprinting talent. "It hit me that no matter how hard I worked, without support I might not make it," says the 19-year-old. "I was in a place where I knew I had big dreams, but I didn't quite know how to reach them. Mentally, I was determined, but sometimes it felt like the odds were stacked against me." Everything changed when the Ruta Sechaba Foundation awarded Walaza a scholarship to attend Curro Hazeldean in Pretoria. Now, he's paying it forward by leading the Foundation's Nelson Mandela Day "I Funded A Future" campaign, rallying South Africans to help raise 67 donations and unlock a bonus scholarship for a learner in need. After only weeks under coach Thabo Matebedi, Walaza was shaving tenths of a second off his 100m and 200m personal bests and winning gold in both events at the South Africa Under-20 Championships. By August, the schoolboy had an Olympic silver medal around his neck as a member of South Africa's 4x100m relay team in Paris, and in May this year he ran the 100m in a personal best of 9.94 sec, just twelve-hundredths of a second outside Akani Simbine's national record. Reflecting on his journey from a backyard shack in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, to the pinnacle of youth athletics, Walaza remains a powerful voice in South African sport, inspiring the next generation as he champions access to education and opportunity. "I was in a place where I knew I had big dreams, but I didn't quite know how to reach them," he says. "Emotionally, I was hopeful but also anxious. Academically, I tried hard but it was tough without access to the right resources." Walaza says the idea of a "world-class education" felt like something other children had – "something I would only see on TV or read about. It felt out of reach, like it belonged to a different world." Wave of gratitude Being awarded the scholarship changed that. "I'll never forget that day. I was in total shock. For a second, I thought it might be a mistake. But then it sank in and I just felt this wave of gratitude." The first person Walaza told was his mother, Tholiwe. "We hugged for a long time," he says. "I could see in her eyes that she knew life would be different now." Walaza is one of more than 3 000 young people awarded Ruta Sechaba (Sesotho for "educating the nation") scholarships to Curro schools since 2016. Recipients are selected for their academic and sporting excellence, leadership potential and commitment to making a difference in their communities. "The scholarship gave me confidence," says Walaza. "It showed me that people believed in my potential, even when I didn't fully believe in it myself. It opened the door to a better future. I went from surviving to dreaming big. "I started to believe that I could compete internationally – not just in sport but in life. It also made me realise that success is not just for certain people, it's for anyone who is given a chance." Walaza says it became clear that his personal good fortune represented something bigger when he visited his old primary school in Katlehong. "A young boy told me, 'I want to run like you one day.' That moment hit me hard. I realised I'm not just running for me – I'm running for everyone who's ever been told their dreams are too big." Someone's potential shouldn't be limited by where they were born, he says. "Talent lives everywhere – in every street, every school, every family. All it needs is a chance. "That donation could be the reason a future doctor, engineer or Olympian gets their start. It's not about knowing us, it's about believing in what's possible." After passing matric (with a distinction in isiZulu), Walaza now combines athletics with supply chain management studies at Tshwane University of Technology. What would he say to someone who thinks their contribution to a Ruta Sechaba scholarship won't make a difference? "I'd say, 'I am the difference your contribution made.' Even the smallest act of giving can change the entire direction of a young person's life. "I nearly didn't make it, but I was given a chance and I ran with it – literally and figuratively." • Donate to the Ruta Sechaba Foundation at .
