Springbok Women ready for landmark Black Ferns test at FNB Stadium

The Springbok Women will face the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday in a historic double-header alongside the Springboks’ third Test against the All Blacks in the Greatest Rivalry series.

The fixture represents a significant moment for women’s rugby in South Africa, with the team set to play in front of a large home crowd on the same stage as the men’s side.

South Africa’s most recent meeting with New Zealand came at the Women’s World Cup. The Springbok Women competed strongly for much of the opening half, matching the Black Ferns’ physicality, organisation and intensity before New Zealand’s quality ultimately proved decisive.

Saturday’s contest gives South Africa another opportunity to measure its progress against one of the leading sides in the women’s game.

Laurian Johannes-Haupt, who played against the Black Ferns at the 2010 Women’s World Cup, believes the squad has developed greater depth since that previous encounter earlier this season.

That progress has been supported by the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup, as well as series against the USA Eagles Women and Fijiana.

Johannes-Haupt is co-coaching the team this week with Franzel September and says the group selected for the match is equipped to carry out a clear tactical plan.

“We have managed to build some extra depth since that match earlier this season when we played in the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and the two series against the USA Eagles Women and Fijiana,” said Johannes-Haupt, who co-coaches the team this week with Franzel September.

“We believe this is the right squad for this game, and we go to FNB Stadium with a very specific game plan in mind.

“We have certain characteristics as Springbok Women and that include being very physical in our first phase, so there is no reason to move away from that. We are aware of what the Black Ferns will bring, but selected this group because we want to play a certain way, not in reaction to who might be in their team.”

Physicality during first-phase play will remain central to South Africa’s approach. Johannes-Haupt has stressed that the Springbok Women will not abandon their identity simply to counter the strengths of their opponents.

New Zealand will start as strong favourites and are expected to bring the intensity normally associated with the Black Ferns. However, the occasion offers South Africa a valuable chance to build on the improvements displayed during recent seasons.

For Johannes-Haupt, the significance of the match extends beyond the result. Having faced New Zealand as a player in 2010, she says the scale of Saturday’s event reflects how far the Springbok Women and women’s rugby in general have come.

“This is a big moment for us as a team, but we will make sure the focus remains between the four lines, where the Blacks Ferns will no doubt come with a massive onslaught.”

The match will be played before the Springboks and All Blacks contest the third Test of their series at FNB Stadium. The shared billing places the Springbok Women in a prominent setting and gives their meeting with the Black Ferns added importance.

Kick-off is at 13:30.