Hours before the Boks won the Rugby World Cup final, the Springbok women’s rugby team beat Manusina Samoa 33-7 in a thrilling WXV 2 final on Friday in Cape Town, bagging themselves a spot in the competition next year.
The last showdown the two teams had was a warm-up test in Hermanus earlier this month, which finished in a 17-17 draw.
The Springboks women had Samoa under tight pressure for most of the first half scoring four tries and leading by 26-0. The score could have been worse for the Samoans, but the Bok women missed a few opportunities at the breakdowns.
The #BokWomen finished #WXV with a flourish against Samoa in Cape Town on Friday - match report: https://t.co/9xvqvN6Xde 💪#MakeItCount pic.twitter.com/0DV1zY3JPP
— SA Women's Rugby (@WomenBoks) October 27, 2023
Samoa seemed to be giving their best, however, the Springboks women appeared more stronger throughout the game, with a strong attack and with how they were using their opportunities wisely.
Much like the famous men’s scrum, the Springboks women’s scrum was just as monstrous, mauling the Samoan team over.
Bok’s women flyhalf, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, who also ultimately won ‘woman of the match’ dominated the score board, followed by flanker Lusanda Dumke, who added her name to the scoresheet by crashing over off the back of another monstrous scrum just before the end of the first half of the game.
Hat-trick ✅
— WXV (@WXVRugby) October 27, 2023
POTM ✅
Libbie Janse van Rensburg is the @Mastercard Player of the Match! #POTM #Priceless #WXV2 pic.twitter.com/L96Uo6sQdb
Despite South Africa’s continuing their dominance upfront, the second half of the match turned into a tussle, with no points being scored until the 72nd minute by Samoa.
Head coach Louis Koen applauded the WXV concept, as it gave his team a three-week window to play top sides such as Scotland, Italy and Samoa.
He said in their previous match with Samoa in Hermanus, many players had come back from injury and it showed.
“Today we played great rugby for 40 minutes. The second half was a bit disappointing, but that first half was so inspiring to everyone who watched. We want to attract more women to the game, and playing like we did will do that.
