Springbok Women run Black Ferns XV close in narrow defeat at Athlone Stadium
Image: Henk Kuger/Independent Newspapers
The Springbok Women suffered a narrow 34-26 loss against the Blacks Ferns XV in the first of two international friendlies at a windy Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday evening.
The half-time score was 20-15.
There was a strong early scrum by the Bok Women, who tried to show their power, but the Black Ferns spread the ball wide quickly off their feed and fullback Mererangi Paul scored in the right corner with the Boks short of defensive numbers in the second minute.
Lock Anathi Qolo came close to a quick reply for SA, but had no support with the tryline beckoning.
The Bok scrum continued to put the squeeze on their opponents and they eventually won a penalty after the 10th minute. Handling errors in broken play proved costly for the South African women, however. In fact, both teams struggled in the blustery conditions.
The Bok tight five shoved the Black Ferns off the ball in a scrum and won a penalty in the following passage of play that they put into touch close to the Black Ferns try line.
The Springbok Women get their reward 🙌
Cilliers gets the conversion to reduce the margin to eight 🎯
📺 Stream #RSAvNZL on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw#HereForHer pic.twitter.com/D4m0RlNMbZ — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 26, 2025
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Bok No 8 Aseza Hele charged over the line after the Black Ferns struggled to cope with a rolling maul from the lineout for the Bok Women's first points of the match.
Wing Jakkie Cillers added the two points with the conversion and the Bok Women were 7-5 in front
A chip and chase by the Black Ferns left the Bok defence at sixes and sevens and Vaina Ubisi was shown yellow for a desperate try-saving tackle from an offside position close to the line after 20 minutes.
The Black Ferns spread the ball through the hands to the right wing from the resultant tap penalty and Kelsey Teneti sauntered in for the try. King again missed the conversion attempt.
A floated Libbie Janse van Rensburg pass deep in Bok territory was then gobbled up by Black Ferns wing Jaymie Kolose who scored their third try.
Hela again responded for the Springbok Women off a rolling maul in the 31st minute to bring the home team within three points at 15-12.
Bok Women's coach Swys de Bruin would have been worried by the amount of space on the home side's flanks. When outside centre Eloise Webb was also shown yellow in the 37th minute for an intentional knock-on, they were again punished out wide. Teneti was again the scorer.
An obstruction in the build-up denied the visitors another try after the hooter. The Bok Women were also unlucky not to score a try of their own after a number of attacking phases.
Trailing at the break, but far from done. A big second half coming from the #BokWomen 🔥#MakeItCount pic.twitter.com/alDQ1WMQrQ — SA Women's Rugby (@WomenBoks) July 26, 2025
Webb returned from the sin bin. The Bok scrum continued to cause problems for the visitors' pack.
But the defensive steel was lacking minutes later when Hollyrae Mete-Renata barged over the line despite the attentions of a number of Bok defenders. Replacement flyhalf Kaea Nepia kicked the first conversion of the match for the Black Ferns.
When Teneti pounced on the loose ball to complete her hat-trick moments later, the Bok Women were in deep trouble.
The SA forwards continued to provide front-foot ball, however, and skipper Babalwa Latsha drove over for a well-deserved try after sustained Springbok pressure after the 50th minute. Cilliers added the two points.
Latsha grew in stature as the Bok Women started to make the hard yards. Fired-up centre Chumisa Qawe was also hitting the line hard. Yet the visitors held firm.
The penalty count was mounting in favour of the home side and a yellow for Maama Vaipulu in the 64th minute gave the SA side a potential way back into the match.
Bok subsitute Nombuyekezo Mdliki thought she had scored two minutes later after a number of phases of attacking play, but it was ruled out for obstruction in the build-up.
They hammered away at the Black Ferns defensive line, with Nadine Roos shifted from fullback to scrumhalf. But handling errors and poor decision making cost the SA side once again with time running out.
The Bok Women threw everything at the Black Ferns with less than three minutes to go, and the charging Mdliki would not be denied this time. They continued to press but could not add to the scoreline.
Points scorers
Springbok Women 26
Tries: Hele (2), Latsha, Mdliki; Conversions: Cilliers (3)
Black Ferns XV 34
Tries: Paul, Teneti (3), Kolosi, Mete-Renata; Conversions: Nepia (2)
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