Where are the Yaras one week ahead of the WXV Global Series Challenger?

Two wins over South Africa ‘A’, 63 points scored and 31 conceded and a big momentum boost for the Yaras ahead of their first WXV Global Series Challenger campaign.

There’s no denying that Brazil has taken another step in their development since Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, showcasing strong foundations in their game plan and a deeper squad better equipped to cope with the demands of any kind.

With the conclusion of the South Africa ‘A’ series, Brazil has recorded five wins – and just one defeat – since Guilherme Coghetto took charge of the women’s national team and programme. A more than promising sign ahead of their clashes against Hong Kong China, Netherlands and Spain.

Unquestionably, the current Brazil is a far more confident team than one year ago, capable of matching the opposition’s physicality and pace while still unleashing the unpredictability and insane flair that can upend any contest.

Any attempt to downplay Brazil’s victories over South Africa ‘A’ and the USA Falcons by focusing on the composition of their opponents’ squads overlooks the fact that the Yaras were also missing several established internationals.

The Yaras secured results despite these absences of Bianca Silva, Taís Prioste, Larissa Lima Henwood, and Camilla Carvalho, which is perhaps the clearest indication yet of the increased depth and competitiveness within the Brazilian player pool.

One aspect worth highlighting right away is the ability to inject speed and agility into the set-piece. The scrum was a stable and reliable anchor that allowed the team to defend more effectively. At the same time, the lineout has proven more dependable, boasting a high success rate on their own throws – an area where they struggled in England a year ago.

At the same time, it is impossible not to highlight the area where the team has improved the most: the ability to win the gain line and keep the ball alive and in possession for long periods.

Take, for instance, the opening try of the first match in the series against South Africa ‘A’. The Yaras regained possession right on the 22-metre line and kept control of the ball for over 110 seconds, patiently playing and finding the right gaps to approach their opponents’ try line.

Maturity and confidence were evident in this play – as in several others like it – advancing the ball while maintaining a clear sense of how to do so, avoiding the kind of uncontrolled frenzy that would have resulted in a turnover for the South African side.

With the loose forward trio of Larissa Carvalho, Marina Fiovaranti, and Mariana Moreira stepping up in their roles as enforcers and primary first responders to a line break, Brazil packs a stronger, more dynamic punch that can significantly affect who controls the game board.

On the other hand, the combo developed between the 10/15 duo of Raquel Kochhann and Fernanda Tenório helped Brazil adopt a broader perspective of the game, enabling the side to identify and exploit opportunities across the entire field rather than focusing solely on what is directly in front of them.

While this may be a simplified analysis, Brazil in 2025 and Brazil now are completely different sides. In 2025, Brazil relied heavily on the driving maul, moments of extraordinary individual brilliance, and aimless sacrifice to try to achieve their goals.

As of 2026, Coghetto and his staff have encouraged the team to elevate their best skills and develop a more cohesive, ambitious game plan that will lead them into a more promising era.

Following the August series, Brazil demonstrated exactly that, revealing a mature, powerful, and dynamic side that strives to maintain composure and clarity of play throughout the full 80 minutes.

It doesn’t mean there is no room for moments like Bianca Silva’s try against France in Exeter – quite the opposite. What the Yaras aim to do now is ensure those moments occur not merely out of desperation, but when the team is dominating or actively contesting control of the game.

The final key aspect to highlight is the responsiveness of the bench. In the second match of the series, Brazil was trailing at the break, with the South Africans holding a 19–5 lead.

With 40 minutes still to go, the staff slowly made changes to the team, with each substitute entering with the right mindset and ambition, guaranteeing enough bricks for the Yaras to build the bridge to their comeback.

Of the four tries scored in the second half, two directly involved players coming off the bench, with Eshyllen Coimbra, Marina Fioravanti, and Leticia Pinheiro setting the tone for a comeback that ended in a 29–19 victory.

That was also one of the missing pieces of the puzzle in the last cycle, and it seems to be heading in the right direction for 2026, as demonstrated in these last two matches.

While the cycle between 2022 and 2025 was one focused on developing the foundations and giving belief that Brazilian women’s rugby could walk, the current one seems to desire something more and far more ambitious.

The Brazilian Yaras are unquestionably a completely different beast from what they were in 2025, and they will look to shock and awe in the upcoming WXV Global Series Challenger.

These recent wins over South Africa ‘A’ are no exception and were not pure luck, serving as a warning to rivals who cannot ignore this Yaras side building a squad capable of competing at the highest level.