Springbok Women captain Babalwa Latsha admitted that to defeat the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon, complete concentration for all 80 minutes of the match will be required.
The Springbok Women team understands that one strong half period in the game will not be enough to overcome the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium on Saturday (the match starts at 13:30). History has already shown them why this is the case. Last year, in the quarter-finals of the Women's Rugby World Cup, when South Africa played New Zealand in Exeter, England, they were level at halftime, but after the break, the Black Ferns took control of the game and ultimately won with a score of 46:17.
Vice-captain Libby Yanse van Rensburg believes that the lesson learned in Exeter remains relevant even almost a year later. She noted: 'We had a plan, and it worked in the first half when we led 10:10. We couldn't maintain that composure in the second half, and that allowed them to take the lead. We cannot afford to rely on just one half; we need to play equally well in both.'
Captain Babalwa Latsha stated that the Bok Women will not abandon the qualities that contributed to their progress: a direct, physical approach and powerful set-piece delivery remain at the core of their playing strategy. She emphasized: 'We have a plan, and it includes directness and physical play, as well as utilizing our strengths, which is a very strong set-piece. They are a very skilled team and will undoubtedly try to get past us, while the direct route is our preferred option.'
Latsha also pointed to the importance of defensive stability. In her opinion: 'I think we need to achieve consistency in our defensive actions and do it at the right time on Saturday. We do not plan to give up our strengths. What we are known for, namely scrum and maul, just like the men's Springbok team, so we look forward to realizing this on match day.'
Bok Women enter this match confident after two victories over Fiji during the tour, as well as a win and a loss against the USA earlier this year. These results helped South Africa climb into the top 10 of the world rankings, but Yanse van Rensburg believes the next goal is already set. She said: 'We wanted to be in the top 10, and to do that, we needed to play against teams from this group. We did that. Now our next focus is to get into the top five, and to do that, we need to play against top-five teams. We will do that tomorrow.'
A victory would allow South Africa to move up three places, securing a record seventh place in the World Rugby rankings, and another position would become available with a win by more than 15 points. However, Saturday signifies more than just the rankings: it will be the first match between Springbok Women and Black Ferns on South African soil, and the first match for the Bok Women at FNB Stadium. This match is part of the dual tournament 'Greatest Rugby Rivalry', where the Springboks will play against the All Blacks later that same day.
After a run-through by the captain on Friday at St John's College, Latsha stated that the squad is ready for the challenge. She concluded her words with: 'The energy in the squad is fantastic. I think the girls are ready for this moment, and we are genuinely looking forward to Saturday, which promises to be a fantastic spectacle.'