After the Springbok Women team demonstrated bravery in a recent series against the USA Women's Eagles, their junior counterparts are preparing for a similarly challenging test against the US juniors at the end of this month.
The Junior Springbok Women will return to international competition for the first time since 2024 at the end of this month. The squad includes a combination of proven experience from Test matches and the country's brightest rising talents.
>New head coach Hayden Gropeus announced on Tuesday a squad of 31 players for the two-match series against the USA Under-20 Women, which will take place in Stellenbosch. Leaders in the group include Abigail Smit and Zethu Gcaza.
Both athletes debuted in senior Test matches during South Africa's triumphant campaign at the Rugby Africa Women's Cup in Kenya earlier this year, providing valuable experience to the young squad. This is part of SA Rugby's efforts to strengthen the pathway to the senior national team.
The two scheduled matches will take place at the Markötter stadium on July 17th and 24th. These games mark an important stage in the continuous development of women's rugby after the Springbok Women reached the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup last year and recently played a competitive Test series against the USA.
Gropeus, who is leading the Junior Bok Women for the first time, also highlighted players who impressed in provincial top-tier rugby and in the FNB Varsity Cup Women competitions.
The squad for the series against the USA U20s includes two players with Test match experience. Other athletes noted for gaining experience in the Women's Super League this season include Owami Mohuli, Julene Haas, Tereské Kabuika, Siphumelele Mdlalose, and Alutha Ngcezula. Additionally, Varsity Cup participants Erin Prins, Sesethu Dumke, Yaneliswa Plaatjie, and Jada Davids were included.
Gropeus stated that 'this group represents the future of women's rugby in South Africa.' He added that the opportunity to compete at this level is an important step in their development and reflects SA Rugby's long-term commitment to developing women's sport and creating a stronger pipeline of world-class players.
The squad also features an interesting overseas player, Kira Snyman, daughter of former Springbok defender André Snyman, based in the United States. Her inclusion is part of SA Rugby's drive to identify South African players abroad and integrate them into the national women's pathway.
Gropeus emphasized that 'our focus was broader than just selecting players.' He clarified that the goal was to 'expose them to elite standards, accelerate their development, and build a sustainable path into senior international rugby.'
Following a tense series of matches against the USA national team, the Springbok women's team has proven that it possesses the necessary skills and spirit to compete with global elites. The team's next target will be Fiji.
The two-match series between Springbok Women and the US Eagles brought the team what coach Swys de Bruin hoped for: confirmation that its squad belongs to leading global teams, as well as a reminder that much work still needs to be done. After the team secured a convincing victory over the eighth-ranked world team with a score of 34:21 in Ellis Park, the Bok Women faced reality by losing 26:19 in Loftus Versfeld, allowing the Eagles to level the series.
On paper, the results were even, but South Africa could have gained more than it lost. Before the first match in Johannesburg, there were doubts about whether participation in last year's Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-finals was a sign of real progress. These doubts are now largely dispelled.
During 40 minutes in Ellis Park, Springbok Women surpassed one of the recognized world powers through dominance in opening sets, constant physical strength, and an increasingly wide attacking game. This was the clearest evidence that the evolution of the squad under De Bruin is beginning to bear fruit.
Coach Swys de Bruin noted that the days of accepting defeats are over, and he values this attitude. He shared his thoughts after the second match, stating that if he had been offered a draw in the series two months ago, he would have accepted. He emphasized: 'The days when we accepted defeats are gone. Now we fight against bigger teams, and matches against them are a real battle.'
Captain Babalwa Latsha supported this growing confidence, stating that the team has been on an upward trajectory since the Women's Rugby World Cup, and they have started believing in themselves, asserting that they will not return to the previous lineup.
The series also reinforced another encouraging trend. Despite injuries to key players Nadine Roos and Aseza Hele, Springbok Women continued to develop. Continuity remains the foundation of De Bruin's project, as last year's core squad continues to drive the team forward, while other players demonstrate impressive play. Logan Welman continued her outstanding start in test rugby, scoring five touchdowns in four international matches, including two in Ellis Park. Alichia Arries showed her value as a genuine attacking threat after returning to the international squad, and Eloise Webb organically took up the fullback position, replacing the rested Byrhandré Dolf. The return of experienced World Cup participants Lerato Makua and Maceala Samboya further highlighted the growing depth of the squad available to De Bruin.
Perhaps the most important thing is that South Africa no longer measures success solely by participation. The disappointment evident after Saturday's loss showed how much expectations within the team have changed. The task now is to turn flashes of genius into consistent play over all 80 minutes. This opportunity will come quickly: a two-match tour in Fiji is scheduled for next month, followed later this year by challenging matches against the Black Ferns and Ireland. If the series against the USA proved anything, it is that Springbok Women are no longer underdogs hoping for a sensation; they are a team knocking on the door of the global elite, and their next task is to stay there.
Following an impressive 34-21 victory last week, all-rounder Eloise Webb stated that the Springbok women's team is ready for a powerful physical confrontation from the United States in the match scheduled for Saturday at Loftus Versfeld stadium.
The Springbok women expect the weakened United States squad to demonstrate an aggressive reaction during the second match between the two national teams in Pretoria. Last weekend, the Bok Women team showed a magnificent level of play, securing a convincing 34-21 win over their opponents, which was largely due to the pressure exerted in the first half that surprised everyone present.
Now, being more familiar with the conditions and having more information about the significant progress of the Bok Women team, the American squad is predicted to be a much more dangerous opponent on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld (the match starts at 13:30). All-rounder Eloise Webb called the game one of the best in the history of Springbok Women's rugby, noting that the team led 29-0 at halftime. Nevertheless, she agreed that the USA could prove to be a much tougher opponent in the upcoming match.
On Tuesday, during a Bok Women training session in Johannesburg, Webb stated: 'We expect a completely different USA team.' She added that they will try to 'come out with fire' and increase the pace to tire out the Springboks. She also emphasized that the team is physically well-prepared and fully understands the task ahead. 'We are very resilient as a team. We truly understand the plan we were given. We really enjoy playing rugby and doing it against a top team.'
Webb came onto the field in the 54th minute when the American team started gaining momentum. The visitors managed to score three consecutive tries from the 58th minute thanks to Freda Tafune (No. 8), Ashley Cody (wing), and Elizabeth Cook (prop), all of which were converted by Bella Vogel (playmaker). After such a positive first half, the dip in performance in the second period was an unpleasant moment, perhaps even more irritating than worrying, and one that Webb and her teammates aim to avoid in the upcoming match.
Webb noted that the team was dissatisfied with the second-half results despite an excellent first period. She explained that the second halves required a lot of work from the defense because the opponents had more possession, whereas in the first half, control belonged to the home team. 'We focus on the small details to become better as a team, instead of focusing on the opponent,' continued the 30-year-old athlete. She stressed that the team's positive attitude is based on working on details and preparing for the game.
One of the key strengths of the Bok Women system is the ability to control the game on the flanks. Americans are known for their ability to move the ball along the line to find open areas on the sides, but the hosts effectively countered this tactic. Webb believes that many teams assume they can bypass them on the flanks, but this has been an area of work since last year's World Cup. She concluded that since the Americans have analyzed their game, they expect the opponents to come out 'with fire' this time.
