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South Africa close in on historic quarter-final after stunning Italy
By Lucy Lomax
South Africa Women produced the first shock of the 2025 Rugby World Cup with a 29-24 win over Italy, a team ranked four places above them in the World Rugby rankings.
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After 80 minutes of powerful and rapid rugby, the Bok Women come out the better of the two sides, beating the Azzurre for the first time in their history, with a quarter final place confirmed if France beat Brazil in the final game of the weekend.
Five tries were scored in total by South Africa, with outstanding number eight Aseza Hele getting across the white wash in the first minute, followed by Nadine Roos, Ayanda Malinga, Sizophila Solontsi and Sinazo Mcatshulwa.
It was scintillating stuff from beginning to end with a nail biting finish set up after South Africa won a penalty in the 78th minute but instead of going for the posts, went for the scrum, with Italy winning the resulting penalty.
This was skilfully kicked down field by Beatrice Rigoni to have player of the match Libbie Janse van Rensburg stop the kick reaching touch deep inside Bok’s territory with her finger nails, swotting it back in field and resulting in a goal line drop out after it being hacked on and Roos touching it down in-goal.
With the clock in the red Italy were unable to field the kick, with it going into touch. The referee then blew her whistle and the celebrations in York began.
Nine of the top ten tackles completed were by Italians demonstrating the amount of work which went into keeping the Springbok Women at bay.
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The power of South Africa’s forwards and their dominance at scrum-time paid dividends, with it more often than not their go-to platform to attack from.
Italy’s line out recovered in the second half which helped them claw their way back into the match, with Francesca Sgorbini’s score bringing Italy level at 17-17 on 46 minutes.
A try from Sara Seye in the 67th minute and Rigoni’s conversion meant the scores were tied once again at 24-24, but Mcatshulwa’s pick and go score proved decisive as the Springbok Women created history at Rugby World Cup 2025.
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