The Springbok Women opened their two-test tour of the Pacific in commanding fashion, beating Fijiana XV 55-12 at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on Saturday, with the second match scheduled for next weekend in Lautoka.
Libbie Janse van Rensburg captained the side for the first time and marked the occasion with two significant milestones, becoming the 12th Springbok Women captain since the team played their inaugural test in 2004, and extending her national test points record to 221 — comprising 14 tries, 56 conversions, 12 penalty goals and a drop goal.
Shiniqwa Lamprecht also had reason to celebrate, earning her first test cap to become Springbok Women #194, one of several players returning from the HSBC SVNS circuit who were integrated into the matchday squad.
Assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt singled out the variety in the team's attacking play and the seamless blending of the sevens returnees as the standout positives. "We did not rely on only one component of our game, we had weapons all around and that was pleasing as it points to a good team effort," she said. "The integration of our sevens ladies really impressed me, it worked well and they really stood up to the task today."
Janse van Rensburg said the set-piece laid the platform throughout. "Our scrums, lineouts and mauls functioned very well and laid the foundation for the win." She acknowledged the breakdown was inconsistent in the first half but improved markedly after the interval, which she credited for the commanding final margin.
Both player and coaching staff identified areas to sharpen ahead of next Saturday's rematch. "We focussed a lot on the breakdown leading up to this match and that will continue, we are not as smooth yet as we want to be," Janse van Rensburg said, also noting that a more direct backline option remains available to the team.
The squad departs for Nandi on Sunday to begin their preparation for the Lautoka test.