Springbok Women Enter Rugby World Cup With Confidence And Grit Despite Tough Pool

The Springbok Women may not carry the same expectations as their male counterparts, but as they arrive in England for the 2025 Rugby World Cup, there’s a noticeable shift in energy and belief. From the training pitch to the changing rooms, this is a team that finally looks ready to push past history and carve a new chapter.

A Morale Boost Before England

Their last warm-up in Cape Town ended with a statement win: a 41-24 victory over a second-string Black Ferns XV. While it wasn’t the reigning world champions at full strength, it was enough to inject much-needed confidence. Head coach Swys de Bruin summed it up best: this is no longer a side held back by nerves or self-doubt. Players are beginning to trust one another and buy into a system that rewards form, belief and unity.

Latsha Leading A New Mindset

Few players embody this turning point better than Babalwa Latsha, the trailblazer who became Africa’s first professional women’s rugby player back in 2020. Captaining the side in their recent win, she admitted that the real battle has been mental.

“We needed to start believing that we actually are capable of winning games,” Latsha explained. For a generation of players who grew up watching the men’s side lift World Cups while the women’s team often struggled for recognition, that belief is now turning into results.

Latsha’s journey itself is a mirror of the women’s game in South Africa: starting out late, pushing through limited support structures, and rising to a point where representation is more than just symbolic. Her voice carries weight, and her message is clear this World Cup is about changing mindsets, not just chasing scores.

A History Of Setbacks And Slow Progress

Women’s rugby in South Africa only dates back to 2004 at Test level. Progress has been painfully slow, with the lowest point coming in 2017 when SA Rugby opted not to send a team to the World Cup. But in recent years, steps forward have started to outweigh the setbacks: Latsha going pro, the Bulls Daisies turning fully professional in 2023, and South Africa fielding a side at the 2021 World Cup (played in 2022 in New Zealand).

Still, challenges remain. Paul Delport’s resignation as Women’s Sevens head coach exposed frustrations about resources and support. Yet the arrival of Swys de Bruin, backed by rising coach Bafana Nhleko, has injected stability and tactical clarity at a crucial moment.

The Road Ahead In Pool D

South Africa kick off their campaign against Brazil on Sunday, a must-win clash given their other pool opponents. France, ranked fourth in the world, are overwhelming favourites. Italy, ranked seventh, present the decisive hurdle and that match on August 31 could determine whether the Boks sneak into the quarter-finals.

Currently ranked 12th, the Springbok Women are underdogs. But they know what is at stake. Against Brazil, ranked 25th, any slip-up would undo the momentum they’ve built. Against Italy, it’s about proving that South Africa can stand toe-to-toe with Europe’s rising powers.

Building Towards Something Bigger

Even after beating the Black Ferns XV, De Bruin reminded everyone that this team is still a work in progress. Missed chances in attack highlighted how much further they can go. But if there’s one thing South Africans know, it’s that rugby is rarely just about statistics.

In pubs, schools and social media feeds, there’s growing support for the Springbok Women. Fans admire the grit it has taken to reach this point and are hungry for a story of resilience to rival the men’s. No one is demanding a trophy, but there is a shared hope: that this World Cup becomes the foundation for lasting respect and recognition.

As the Boks step onto English soil, they carry with them more than jerseys and game plans. They carry the weight of history, the spark of progress, and the possibility that belief itself might be their greatest weapon.

Source:ESPN Africa 

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