France’s late tries dim SA’s stark improvement
The Springbok women might have been downed 40-5 by France in the World Cup opener at Eden Park yesterday morning, but hooker Lindelwa Gwala said they had plenty to take heart from.
SA conceded three tries in the opening 17 minutes and another three in the closing seven minutes, but in between the underdogs gave a great account of themselves, especially up front with a dominant display by the forwards.
“Our pack, we had them today,” said Gwala. “We were in their faces and we could see the frustration on their faces and it was beautiful to see.”
The Boks produced some impressive moments in the opening stages of the match —a massive hit by flanker Sizophila Solontsi on flyhalf Caroline Drouin, the front row dominating the scrums and fullback Nadine Roos sliding neatly through a gap.
But these moments were like flotsam in a blue French tsunami that swept them away
Boks women concede three tries in the closing seven minutes in World Cup opener
early on. Scrumhalf Laure Sansus scored the first of her two tries in the second minute, sniping through a gap on the side of a maul.
Centre Gabrielle Vernier collected a chip by Drouin, stepped inside to beat a defender to go over. And lef-wing Emile Boulard intercepted the ball to score France’s third try. The conversion made it 19-0.
Flyhalf Libbie Janse van Rensburg had a nightmare, finding herself out of position when Sansus went over and also missing two important touch-finders.
She was substituted by Zenay Jordaan, who made an instant impact and had a hand in SA’s only try, scored by right-wing Nomawethu Mabenge early in the second-half after heavy pressure.
Even after Solontsi was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle, the SA pack stood firm.
The Boks also pressured the French into making mistakes.
For a side that was outplayed 46-3 by France a year ago, this was a stark improvement, dimmed by the late tries.
Forwards coach Eddie Myners said the performance proved that SA, ranked 11th in the world, had closed the gap on France, in fourth place. “Last year they bullied us in front and today it was a totally different showcase and that’s where we take confidence out of saying that it would not take long [to catch up].
“Within the next 12 months it will be a completely different story.”
Next Sunday SA take on Fiji, who were thumped 84-19 by favourites England in the other Group C match yesterday. In the final game defending champions New Zealand downed Australia 41-17.