Springbok Women out of World Cup after Fijian defeat
The Springbok Women’s team will not feature in the knockout stages of the 2021 Rugby World Cup after falling to Fiji 21-17 in Auckland. Having lost to France in their opening game of the tournament in Pool C, their second loss has consigned them to a pool stage exit from the flagship competition.
The rugby was fast and loose, perhaps not a game for purists, but hugely entertaining nonetheless.
With both teams evenly matched on the scoreboard and barely a minute left on the clock, South Africa could have been forgiven for expecting their successful penalty kick would seal the win, but Fiji had other ideas, rampaging number eight Karalaini Naisewa crashing over for a try in the dying seconds and Lavena Cavuru coolly slotting the conversion to seal their first World Cup win in their second ever appearance.
Fiji captain Asinate Serevi was in buoyant mood after the game when asked for her thoughts. “There are no words for it. I am so grateful for the girls. We talked about just leaving everything on the field and keeping our composure. We had two minutes left to score that try and we said, ‘just keep it together and be patient. That’s what Fiji are known for – one minute, Fiji can still win the game. We said before the game to have fun and that’s what we did.”
Her opposite number, Nolusindiso Booi saw some positives from her own team too. “There were moments when we had good runs and there were moments when we put in good hits but they won the game because they stuck to their plan and we didn’t stick to ours.”
South Africa and Fiji are the World Cup’s two unknown quantities, with only three of their players featuring in the Allianz Premier 15s. The Springboks Women have had Zintle Mbupha playing for Exeter Chiefs and Catha Jacobs (not picked for today’s game) joined Saracens late in the season after a short time with London Irish ladies. Rachel Laqeretabua, also of Saracens is well known to northern hemisphere fans but otherwise, these teams are both stuffed with names that we’re only beginning to learn about.
Wow!!!
Our first World Cup WIN. #duavataveilomanirakavi #RWC2021 pic.twitter.com/kfTJlgYwTD— Fiji Rugby Union (@fijirugby) October 16, 2022
From the opening whistle this game could best be described as loose, with both teams throwing the ball about and displaying an interesting take on team defence. It would be nearly a quarter of an hour before the first try would be scored though, Fiji left wing Ilisapeci Delaiwau crossing the whitewash, making the most of her opposite number, South Africa’s number 14 Nomawethu Mabenge, being yellow carded. Cavuru with the conversion.
As the first half drifted on the rugby played was certainly entertaining, but the lack of structure began to show as neither team put together a convincing run of phases without losing possession. South Africa would capitalise with five minutes left on the clock, Mpupha seeing a gap in the Fiji line and charging through to score. Libbie Janse van Rensburg would slot the conversion and the story was set for us to go to half time with both teams on equal points…
But Fiji didn’t read the script. Right wing Akanisi Sokoiwasa getting a try with the clock in the red and Cavuru converting to give us Fiji 14 – 7 South Africa as the whistle blew.
The second half would see a raft of substitutions by both teams early on, causing the already unstructured play to become even looser for a time, but the Women Boks found their rhythm and their powerful number eight Aseza Hele scored, with Janse van Rensburg converting to bring the scores back to level.
From here the teams traded rampaging runs for turnovers, each looking dangerous but neither capitalising. Siteri Rasolea, the Fijian tighthead who continually overpowered her tacklers and played the full 80 minute caught the eye particularly.
With five minutes left on the clock Fiji won a penalty, pointed to the posts and Cavuru stepped up, but her kick soared wide. Four minutes later and it was South Africa’s turn to try for three points and Janse van Rensburg wasn’t going to make the same mistake, her kick sailing between the posts with precision.
It was perhaps a sign of the relative immaturity on display that the Boks kick didn’t see the game out, instead they restarted and Fiji capitalised almost immediately, Naisewa powering through and Cavuru determined not to miss twice.
“It’s a tough one for us but maybe a good lesson for the future. Hopefully this tournament will kick start what can happen in the game in South Africa and at least we are going back with a lot of experience that we didn’t have.” South Africa head coach Stanley Raubenheimer said after the game.
Comments on RugbyPass
Farcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
61 Go to comments