The Springbok Women made history in York on Sunday with a superb 29-24 victory (half-time 17-12) over Italy in their second Women’s Rugby World Cup pool game to book their spot in the quarter-finals for the first time ever.
For the second day in succession, the York Community Stadium threw up a RWC classic with the South Africans triumphing 29-24 over Italy in a thriller thanks to Sinazo Mcatshulwa’s try six minutes from time.
The Springbok Women will meet France – who are second in Pool D after thumping Brazil 84-5 – next Sunday to decide who goes through as group winners.
“This is unreal, it is so emotional,” said head coach Swys de Bruin. “We have never made the quarters, we have never beaten Italy.
The nation is so much behind these girls. It is in our blood. We just love it. We try to copy our men’s teams, the sevens, the under-20s. We thought we must catch up now. Our girls were absolutely fantastic.”
Player of the match Libbie Van Rensburg added: “This is massive. We spoke about changing history in South Africa for women’s rugby and we did that.”
“Every single lady who is in the squad is part of making history and I think we really made South Africa proud.”
Scorers:
Springbok Women 29 (17) – Tries: Aseza Hele, Nadine Roos, Ayanda Malinga, Sizophila Solontsi, Sinazo Mcatshulwa. Conversions: Byrhandré Dolf (2).
Italy 24 (12) – Tries: Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, Vittoria Vecchini, Francesca Sgorbini, Sara Seye. Conversions: Michela Sillari, Beatrice Rigoni.
Line-ups
Italy: Minuzzi; Muzzo, Sillari, Rigoni, D’Inca; Stevanin, Stefan; Turani, Vecchini, Seye, Tounesi, Duca, Sgorbini, Veronese, Giordano (capt).
Replacements: Gurioli, Stecca, Maris, Fedrighi, Ranuccini, Bitonci, Mannini, Granzotto.
South Africa: Roos; Dolf, Mpupha, Qawe, Malinga; Janse van Rensburg, Tose; Charlie, Gwala, Latsha, Booi (capt), Lochner, Solontsi, Mcatshulwa, Hele.
Replacements: Gunter, Ngxingolo, Mdliki, Ubisi, Makua, Jacobs, Ngwevu, Webb.
Match officials
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Australia)
Assistant referees: Holly Wood (England) and Amelia Luciano (South Africa)
TMO: Rachel Horton (Australia).
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