Springbok Women's coach reflects on missed opportunities in defeat to Canada
The South Africans were left to rue missed opportunities as they succumbed 33-5 to the world's No 2 team in the second Test at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday afternoon. But with 15 minutes to go in the match, De Bruin felt the Springbok Women were still in the contest.
'At 19-5 and we get three line breaks, scoring chances, with 15 minutes to go I thought, 'okay, they're number two and we're number 12, we've closed the gap',' he said at the post-match media conference. 'I mustn't let the fact that they scored those two tries at the and pull the wool over my eyes. We had so many line breaks against a top side like that.
'And then we almost get the jitters when someone runs through, we're not used to it. Because Jakkie (Cilliers) went weak, Libbie (Janse van Rensburg) is through and just lost the ball, Zintle (Mpupha) is through and just drops the ball, where they finished.
"That was the difference. Every one of their points came from great finishing and we got the line breaks but we didn't finish. I felt if we could finish, it would have been a totally different story.'
The Springbok Women did well to recover from an error-strewn first Test at Loftus in Pretoria last weekend against one of the favourites for next month's World Cup.
De Bruin said the growth the team has shown over the past two weeks against the second-ranked team in the world was commendable and made him a proud coach.
'I will be the first one to admit that we are far from the finished product, but the improvement was real and we were in this match for a long time,' he said. 'We only scored once, but had so many other opportunities and that was very pleasing. Those are all fixable errors.
"We needed these two Test matches to see where we are, and I am very happy with the report card thus far.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
De Bruin praises experimental Bok Women's half-back pairing of Roos and Webb
Springbok Women's Sevens star Eloise Webb got her first start at flyhalf for the Springbok Women against Canada on Saturday. Springbok Women's performance coach Swys de Bruin is happy with the early signs from his experimental half-back pairing of Nadine Roos and Eloise Webb. Roos started at scrumhalf after she had started at fullback in the first Test at Loftus, with regular centre Webb coming off the bench to start at flyhalf in Saturday's second Test against Canada in Gqeberha. The move was part of a backline reshuffle that had also seen Byrhandré Dolf start at fullback. Libbie Janse van Rensburg, who started at flyhalf in Pretoria, slotted in at inside centre. The South Africans succumbed 33-5 to the world's No 2 team in the second Test at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium after losing the first 50-20. 'For the amount of pressure, it was a tough ask of Eloise to play her first game ever at 10. Apart from two little mistakes she recovered lovely. And Nadine plays great wherever she plays,' De Bruin said in his post-match media conference. 'I thought all our steppers, the faster girls, did well. Dolfy was superb, Jakkie (Cilliers) had a few good runs, Zintle (Mpupha) also had good runs. So the score mustn't now confuse what we're doing.'
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Keeper call and the deeper questions facing Banyana Banyana
Kaylin Swart's start over Andile Dlamini in Banyana Banyana's 1-1 draw with Tanzania has reignited debate over team selection, strategy, and representation — with coach Desiree Ellis now under mounting scrutiny ahead of WAFCON's decisive stages. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepic COMMENT Banyana Banyana's 1-1 draw with Tanzania on Friday was more than just a frustrating result — it was a performance that peeled back the layers of tactical intent, team cohesion, and national introspection. At the heart of the storm is coach Desiree Ellis' decision to start Kaylin Swart ahead of Andile Dlamini — a move that has opened the door to technical and political debate, just as South Africa's title defence at WAFCON demands composure and clarity. Swart is no novice. She has worn the badge with pride and stood tall on big stages, most recently at the 2023 World Cup. Yet football, like all sport, lives in the present. And after Dlamini's brilliant showing against Ghana, many felt she had done more than enough to retain the No 1 shirt. 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 ✕ Instead, Swart's selection — and the missed opportunity that led to Tanzania's equaliser — has left fans questioning not only the tactical rationale, but the consistency of Ellis' selections. Ellis, to her credit, has backed her choice. She insists the decision was based on strategy, not sentiment. But the broader discussion refuses to remain within the lines of the pitch. It has spilled into the murky terrain of race, representation, and national identity — topics that have long haunted South African sport. For critics, the lack of coloured and white players in the national women's squad is jarring. While South Africa is overwhelmingly black in population, sport is one of the few spaces where national teams are scrutinised not just for their talent, but for their reflection of the country's diversity. The memory of Sports Minister Steve Tshwete calling out a 'lily-white' Proteas team in 1998 still lingers. Today, similar questions are being raised — not from the ministerial podium, but from Parliament itself. The inquiry by Patriotic Alliance MP Marlon Daniels, asking SAFA why there are so few coloured players in national teams beyond Ronwen Williams and Swart, struck a chord. Whether such inquiries are politically motivated or genuinely reflective of public sentiment, they underline the need for transparency and accountability in the structures that shape our national teams. For Ellis and SAFA, the issue is twofold. First, are the best players being selected based on form and ability? Second, is enough being done to ensure talent is being identified and nurtured across all communities? The timing of this storm is unfortunate — it threatens to derail a campaign that still holds promise. Banyana Banyana are, after all, reigning African champions. They are more than just a team — they are a symbol of progress, resilience, and pride. But symbols must also reflect the nation they represent. Ellis has built a squad with loyalty and continuity in mind, but she now faces a crucial test of leadership. The next goalkeeper selection may not only determine the outcome of a match — it may shape the public's trust in her ability to make decisions beyond favouritism or optics. There is no doubt the players remain committed. This is a team of fighters, built on character and conviction. But with the pressure mounting and scrutiny intensifying, Banyana Banyana must now show not just the tactical discipline to advance — but the unity and maturity to weather the storm brewing around them. As the final group fixtures loom, South Africa will be watching — not just the scoreboard, but the symbolism stitched into every line-up.
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- The Citizen
Grant Williams on the ‘stolen' Willie le Roux try and return to green and gold
Williams admitted he missed the chance to give Willie le Roux a try on the fullback's 100th Test match. Grant Williams scores in his first match in three months, while Willie le Roux (right) missed out. Picture: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images Scrumhalf Grant Williams admitted to feeling nervous in the build-up to his return from injury for the second Springbok–Italy Test, which ended 45–0 to the South Africans. But once back on the field, he was thrilled to be playing again — even if he missed the moment to set up a try for Willie le Roux on his 100th Test — and said he's excited about what the rest of the season holds. Williams last played almost three months ago, when the Sharks travelled to Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship (URC) on 18 April. An ongoing neck injury kept him out of the next three URC pool games, the quarter-final and semi-final. He missed the Boks' first game of the season, a friendly against the invitational side Barbarians in June, before the first Test against Italy at the beginning of the month, which the Springboks won 42–24. Williams 'took' Willie le Roux's try He finally returned to action in the second Test at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, and for the most part didn't look as nervous as he admitted he was afterwards, being quick on the feed and finishing off a great team try which came from an Edwill van der Merwe line break and Makazole Mapimpi link-up. It was the first try of the day and Le Roux was there at Williams' side to finish the score if he was tackled, or perhaps graciously receive the ball to record a score in his milestone match. 'It was actually Willie's try that I took,' Williams said afterwards. Still, he said he felt calmer after scoring. 'I hadn't played in three months. It was frustrating this week, the amount of nerves and having to play in a Springbok jersey [first].' Nervy scrumhalf happy to be back, link up with Libbok The number nine said he would have preferred to have played for the Sharks in domestic rugby, and it had been daunting to return to the highest level after such a long injury lay-off. 'But happy to get the win and just happy to play again. A bit of rust but looking forward to the next couple of weeks.' Williams said it was especially enjoyable linking up with flyhalf Manie Libbok as the halfback pair. While Libbok missed his first two kicks at posts, he commanded the backline well and created opportunities in open play. He also slotted the next five conversions. 'The plan was to try certain things and it worked. It is always special to play with Manie, we have a good relationship. But it doesn't matter who plays next to me,' Williams said, explaining that he enjoyed playing with the other flyhalves in the team as well.
