Catha Jacobs believes that the Springbok Women team has expanded its skill set ahead of Saturday's test match against the Black Ferns. Less than a year after their World Cup dream was cut short by the Black Ferns, the Springbok Women team will have a second chance to demonstrate their progress during the meeting at the FNB stadium on Saturday.
In September last year, the New Zealand team won 48:11 in the quarter-finals at the Exeter, ending South Africa's historic advancement to eight teams. For Catha Jacobs, who is likely to play her 31st test match, the memory of that game remains fresh, but so does the belief that South Africa has changed since then.
"We left the field disappointed after the quarter-final match against the Black Ferns," Jacobs stated. "It was great to make it into the top eight for the first time, and even better to be leading 10-10 at halftime. But the second half didn't work out for us."
This time, South Africa arrives at home ground with greater confidence following a draw with the USA and a convincing 2-0 away victory over Fiji. Jacobs believes that the improvements go beyond physical strength, which was long a hallmark of the Springbok Women's game.
"We will never give up our strengths in the first phase and our physical power, but we have added variety to our game," she noted.
Vainah Ubisi also approaches this rematch on Saturday with a desire to prove her worth. The powerful forward recovered from a knee injury before the World Cup and admitted that it was difficult for her to make an impact after arriving in England without sufficient match fitness. In the quarter-final, she came on as a substitute when New Zealand took control of the game.
This time, Ubisi is in form, confident, and ready to show the Black Ferns what they did not see in Exeter. The 23-year-old athlete scored in South Africa's last three matches against the USA and twice against Fiji, and believes she is ready to show the Black Ferns what they missed in Exeter.
"They didn't see my best at the World Cup," said Ubisi. "My experience with the Black Ferns wasn't the best... but now, less than a year later, I can fix that. It almost feels like I'll meet them on my terms this time."
Ubisi's return to full physical condition has boosted her confidence, and the forward has embraced her role as a 'driver' for the Bok Women team. "I am satisfied with how I look in terms of shape, fitness, and growth as an international forward," she shared.
This confidence will be tested against the world number two team from New Zealand, but South Africa will have the advantage of playing in front of home crowds at the country's largest stadium. The match is also part of a major double fixture featuring the Springboks and the All Blacks.
Nevertheless, for Jacobs, the main interest is finding out how far the Bok Women have progressed. "Fiji and the USA also participated in the World Cup. Of these three, I think we improved the most," she concluded. The match on Saturday at the FNB stadium will start at 13:30.