Further improvement on the cards for Bok Women

Mar 29 • General News, International, National, South Africa, South Africa, Springbok News, Springboks, Womens Rugby • 641 Views • Comments Off on Further improvement on the cards for Bok Women

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The fruits from a two-week rugby intensive camp will come into practice again for the Springbok Women on Wednesday as they tackle the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in a live session at City Park which will provide the squad another opportunity to implement the learnings provided by their coaching staff.

Team captain for the day, Lusanda Dumke, who will start the match at No 8 will take the field in a side that differs substantially from the one coach Stanley Raubenheimer called into action against Hamiltons Under 20 in Cape Town a week ago.

Only lock Karthy Dludla will start in the same jersey, but Jakkie Cilliers and Simamkele Namba (both utility backs) will also front up from the start in Green Point last week.

Raubenheimer gave the remaining squad a starting berth this time around, with the entire replacements bench from last week’s starting team now being included in the run-on team, with Dumke, saying getting back into a match situation – their first since late November – was a huge step up, especially as their opponents were male players.

“The physicality and speed of the play was huge last week, and we had to dig deep to adapt to that. We have not played since the tour in November, so it was a steep hill to climb,” Dumke said.

“That was a good exercise though, as we need to be put under pressure to see how our processes stand up and how we can execute while under stress. That will also apply tomorrow when the rest of the squad get game time. We will have to stay in the fight, for sure.”

Dumke got some rust out of the system in the second half last week, as did Micke Gunter (hooker), Azisa Mkiva (replacement prop), Monica Mazibukwana (prop), Sinazo Mcatshulwa flank), Rumandi Potgieter (scrumhalf), Kirsten Conrad (flyhalf) and Aphiwe Ngwevu (centre), but for others it has been longer.

Nadine Roos (wing), Ziyanda Ngohlekana (flank) and Yonela Ngxingolo (prop) will recall their previous match day huddle way back in November, but it has been even longer since Alichia Arries (wing) and Nompumelelo Mathe (lock) did so. Both were in action in the series against Kenya played in August last year, but did not travel for the November Series.

“The two week camp has been going well,” Dumke said. “We have progressed and are closer to our targets for the camp.

“We want our set pieces to improve, and our kicking game to be better, so that was given a lot of attention at this camp.

“This match will again show us where we are as a squad. It is important that we know, because the next time the squad gets together, it will be for the African Cup in June.”

The Springbok Women squad for the live session against CPUT: