The Springbok Women secured a 31-24 (17-12 halftime) win over Japan to start their WXV 2 campaign in a positive fashion. The Springbok Women held on bravely to a win over Japan in the opening clash of WXV 2 at DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
For the second year running, the Springbok Women are in action during the six-team women’s 15s tournament.
It was a fairly error-strewn match by the Bok Women, who for a large part were outplayed by a quick and classy Japanese outfit.
The Bok Women, however, held on where they could, and survived on plucky defence and strong running to seal the win and score all five of their tries.
Japan, in turn, scored four tries. Despite their nimble running and quick hands in attack, it was their rolling maul that caught the Springbok Women by surprise, scoring all of their tries directly off the forward moving set-piece.
Bok Women looseforward Aseza Hele is tackled during the WXV 2 match against Japan at DHL Stadium on 27 September 2024 in Cape Town. (Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images)
Nervy start
South Africa endured a stuttering first half filled with errors. Knock-ons, off-target passes, missed one-on-one tackles and poor open play kicking was the theme of the first 40 minutes.
Yet the Springboks held a 17-12 lead at the break thanks to their superior physicality over an enterprising Japanese side.
Japan started the match on the front foot, spending a good portion of the opening 10 minutes inside the Springbok Women’s 22-metre area. South Africa’s defence held firm for the most part, punishing the Japan runners.
Despite dominating physically, Japan held the ascendancy at the maul and opened the scoring with hooker Kotomi Taniguchi through their powerful lineout set piece.
The Bok Women hit back within two minutes, with their first attack of the match. The Bok Women used their size and strength advantage by keeping things tight, gaining momentum from pick and goes.
No 8 Aseza Hele eventually powered over.
As if taking turns, Japan struck from the kick-off, building phases within a Bok defence that proved resilient but not impenetrable, particularly off their maul defence.
This time Japan dinked the ball behind after spreading it off the back of another forward rolling maul. Flyhalf Ayasa Otsuka was the recipient of the well-executed set move.
Two clinically taken tries followed for South Africa, with inside centre Chumisa Qawe and prop Sanelisiwe Charlie using their strength to get over the advantage line and whitewash.
Jakkie Cilliers missed the first two conversions, but converted the third to help South Africa to a 17-12 lead.
Defending a lead
South Africa came out in the second half and produced some of their best, most enterprising play of the match.
Forwards and backs combined well and passes, which weren’t sticking in the first half, were inch-perfect in the five-minute spell.
It culminated with flying winger Ayanda Malinga being put into space, beating the last defender and scoring a classy try.
Japan though, in the same fashion as the first half, hit back through their maul. No 8 Seina Saito dotted down on both occasions in a five minute period to ensure the teams were locked on 24 points each.
A similar period of grinding by the Bok Women forwards saw lock Vainah Ubisi scoring for the team, and Cilliers converting for a third try with two minutes to go.
It made for a nerve-wrecking final 20 minutes where South Africa seemingly tried their best to lose the match. Backed into their own 22-metre, they were given numerous opportunities to clear the pressure but failed.
Japan came within centimetres of scoring on several occasions, but was repelled by tireless defence. They even crossed the whitewash with only a few minutes to go, but were called back after obstruction in the build-up play.
With SA hanging on by a thread, the final whistle went and the ball was booted out almost immediately.
The team will have many lessons to work on for the next match against Australia on Saturday 5 October, but will be happy to seal a win in their first match of the 2024 tournament.
