Springbok Women cut loose in second half to secure big win over Cameroon
springbok-women-v-cameroon-may-202416
Saturday’s Rugby Africa Women’s Cup opener was the first of three matches the Bok Women need to win to not only defend their African title, but secure their place at next year’s global showpiece in England.
Playing with a strong wind at their backs, the Bok Women could only score three maul tries in the first half, all by hooker Lindelwa Gwala, but things opened up after the break and they added six more tries to their tally, with winger Maceala Samboya grabbing a hat-trick in only 10 minutes.
With the South African pack setting the tone by overpowering their opponents in set-piece play, the second-half replacements made a big impact as they opted to attack more with ball in hand and found gaps in Cameroon’s defence.
The first half was a scrappy affair as the strong and swirling wind made things difficult for both teams, but South Africa would have liked to make more of playing with the wind and led by only 19-0 at the break.
All three South Africa’s tries came from strong lineout drives, with Gwala the grateful recipient at the back of the mauls to score a hat-trick of tries.
The Bok Women’s changed side took some time to find their rhythm, but first-half injuries to prop Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen and flanker Samantha Els also disrupted the team in green and gold.
Cameroon were frequently penalised, losing prop Gladys Magala to a yellow card late in the half, but the Bok Women could not capitalise on this as they made too many unforced errors.
The second half was a vastly different affair, with flanker Lusanda Dumke and fullback Byrhandre Dolf both making significant impacts from the bench.
Vainah Ubisi, who replaced Els on the side of the scrum, scored a clever try six minutes into the half when she jogged over after taking a lineout on the Cameroon 5m line and realised her opponents hadn’t engaged in a maul.
Centre Veroeshka Grain then added her name to the score sheet when the ball was sent wide from a scrum turnover, before Samboya did more damage as she found space on the left-hand side of the field to score tries in the 55th, 59th and 65th minutes.
Eight minutes before the end, Aphiwe Ngwevu (replacement centre) celebrated her return to the squad for the first time this year with a try from a quick-tap penalty to make it 55-0.
Cameroon had one last go at the SA try-line, but the Bok Women’s defence held firm and they came away with a good victory.
Scrumhalf Rumandi Potgieter had a good game behind a dominant pack, and No 10 Mary Zulu impressed with her distribution and kicking game – both out of hand and at goal – as she converted five of the nine tries in very tricky conditions.
Springbok Women 55 (19) – Tries: Lindelwa Gwala (3), Vainah Ubisi, Veroeshka Grain, Maceala Samboya (3), Aphiwe Ngwevu. Conversions: Mary Zulu (5).
Cameroon: 0 (0)