The Springbok women's team celebrated their first match on South African soil in four years with a comprehensive 28-17 victory over a star-studded Nomads international invitation side at Goodwood Rugby Club in Cape Town last Saturday.
Daphne Scheepers of Grahamstown is part of the Springbok side which now takes a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
The Springbok women's team celebrated their first match on South African soil in four years with a comprehensive 28-17 victory over a star-studded Nomads international invitation side at Goodwood Rugby Club in Cape Town last Saturday.
Daphne Scheepers of Grahamstown is part of the Springbok side which now takes a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
During their last tour of South Africa in 2008, the tourists, whose current squad are drawn from New Zealand, Wales, England, Ireland, Scotland and Sweden, beat the Springbok Women 40-34 and 29-0 in a similar two-match series.
Head coach Denver Wannies said he was satisfied with the way the squad kicked off the series. “The players really wanted to make a statement and they did so,” he said.
The coach said he knows his team is aware of the perception that rugby isn't for women, and that some people believe it to be a waste of time and money.
“They wanted to show that they are worthy of being called Springboks, and worthy of playing at the highest level. There was also a score to settle after losing to the Nomads the last time they were here,” Wannies said.
The second and final match in the series takes place at Goodwood Rugby Club on tomorrow (Saturday) at 2pm.
