With the Springbok Women heading back to Cardiff Arms Park on Friday, Babalwa Latsha, Lindelwa Gwala, Aseza Hele and Felicia Jacobs — all of whom were on the field for that 19-5 loss in 2018 — reflect on how far the squad has come. The piece tracks the shift in standings (South Africa now ranked 10th, Wales 13th) and mood, with Gwala pointing to game management and experience as the key gains since those early Tests, and Hele flagging a physical, forward-dominated contest as the likely battleground. The veterans' verdict is consistent: the 2018 and 2021 defeats were developmental growing pains — Friday is something else entirely.
Cardiff revisited: Bok Women veterans hungry to rewrite 2018 history
Latsha, Gwala, Hele and Jacobs revisit the 2018 Cardiff loss — and make clear they believe the Bok Women are a different proposition this time around, with rankings, experience and confidence all pointing in the right direction.
Bok Women can reach record-high seventh with win over Black Ferns
The Springbok Women can reach a record-high ranking of seventh — or sixth — with a win over New Zealand this weekend, while a Black Ferns loss would see them fall to third with Canada rising to second.
Hele returns with a bang as Bok Women crush Fiji 55-12 in Suva
Aseza Hele returned from hand surgery to carry 16 times for 127 metres as the Springbok Women beat Fiji 55-12 in Suva, with the second test to follow at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Saturday.
Springbok Women head to Suva for inaugural Ubuntu-Bula Trophy Test
Full teams and a match prediction for the first Springbok Women Test in Suva — the Boks favoured by seven points if discipline and physicality hold, with Libbie Janse van Rensburg captaining and Shiniqwa Lamprecht earning her debut.
Janse van Rensburg sets tone as Bok Women prepare for historic Fiji first
Libbie Janse van Rensburg says the Bok Women are in full Test mode after resuming training in Suva on Monday, with Saturday's historic first Test against the Fijiana XV at HFC Bank Stadium the immediate focus. The vice-captain and all-time leading Springbok Women points scorer (219 points in 32 Tests) has flagged breakdown work as the key area for improvement following last month's series loss to the USA.
Springbok Women switch to Test mode in Suva ahead of historic Fiji first
The Springbok Women are back in training in Suva ahead of Saturday's historic first Test against Fijiana XV, with vice-captain Libbie Janse van Rensburg highlighting the breakdown and squad depth as key themes for the two-match series.