Bok Women braced for explosive scrum battle in final group clash against France
Women's Rugby World Cup
Springbok Women's No 8 Aseza Hele was in devastating form against Italy and is one of only two forwards from the last match picked to again start in the Pool D decider against France on Sunday.
Image: World Rugby
The Springbok Women are gearing up for an intense scrum battle in their final Women’s Rugby World Cup Pool D clash against France at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton on Sunday after steamrolling the opposition in the set piece in their opening two matches.
Coach Swys de Bruin made a raft of changes to the SA side for the match that will decide the winners of the pool.
However, a Bok team led by powerhouse prop Babalwa Latsha, the most capped prop in Bok Women’s history, boasts ample scrummaging power to face up to the expected onslaught from the powerful French pack.
Props Yonela Ngxingolo and skipper Latsha will pack down either side of hooker Micke Gunter, while veteran Vainah Ubisi and Anathi Qolo will lock down the second row with Lerato Makua and Catha Jacobs on the flanks and Aseza Hele in the No 8 position.
It is a pack picked to once again dominate the opposition, despite breathers for Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Sizophila Solontsi, Danelle Lochner, regular skipper Nolusindiso Booi, Lindelwa Gwala, and Sanelisiwe Charlie from the forward pack that started in the historic 29-24 victory against Italy.
In fact, Latsha and Hele are the only forwards in Sunday's team who started against Italy, with Qolo the only member of the pack who has not played in either of the first two matches.
The Bok Women’s selection is a sign of the type of game De Bruin expects from the fourth-ranked French, the Six Nations runners-up.
“We know their strengths, we know our strengths and our weaknesses. We will want to brush up on our defence, especially out wide. They will challenge us there,” De Bruin predicted ahead of Sunday’s encounter.
“Playing against France, firstly their defence is good. Italy couldn’t score a try, or get a point for that matter. They do leave a bit of space behind and we must exploit that and turn them at the right time.
“And then they have a very good set piece. They maul well and everyone here at the tournament talks about their scrum and how good it is. But with our forwards coach Laurian (Johannes-Haupt) there we might just surprise them up front.”
It would not be a surprise should De Bruin opt to employ the Bomb Squad at some stage in the match, having packed the bench with lots of explosive power in a 6-2 split between forwards and backs.
South Africa top Pool D with a full house of 10 log points after beating Brazil and Italy, with France second with nine log points. Both have already qualified for the quarter-finals, to be played in Exeter next weekend.
Latsha insists they will be ready for whatever the French will throw at them, having prepared well, dismissing the notion that they would take it easy having already booked their place in the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time.
“We enjoyed the highs of qualifying for the quarter-finals, but came back to earth this week to prepare for this important game,” she said.
“We are still going out to win, no matter what. We are not saving ourselves for next weekend. What gives me confidence is the fact that we have been on an upward trajectory in our play for a while now and I know we can still improve even more. We are in a good space and ready to take on whatever challenge comes our way.”
Kick-off at Franklin’s Gardens is at 5.45pm on Sunday (SA time).