The Springbok Women face Ireland for the first time in 20 years at Athlone Stadium tomorrow (15:00), and for Vainah Ubisi the focus is simple: match Ireland’s set-piece power and take the fight to them at source.
Ireland, ranked fifth in the world, arrive with a reputation for powerful lineouts and a strong kicking game, and Ubisi says the Boks have spent the week planning to disrupt exactly that.
“As much as they are a good set-piece team, we also are. I think we have the same strength,” she said.
“Our plan going into tomorrow’s game is to kill them at source, close them middle and back on the lineouts, and make sure they don’t get clean ball.
“On the scrums as well, we want to scrum for penalties and take their scrums. Whatever they bring tomorrow, we are ready for it.”
South Africa, ranked 10th, are the lower-ranked side on paper, but Ubisi was quick to point to the squad’s own standards.
“The preparations have been focusing on what we want to achieve this weekend, because we obviously built into us being the number one in the world.”
A new chapter for the Springbok Women
Captain Sizophila Solontsi framed the occasion differently, not as a historic milestone, but as a new beginning.
“Most of the people that played 20 years ago are no longer here, and we acknowledge that. They paved the way for us,” she said.
“But going into this match, it’s more of a fresh start: the new generation and all the growth that has happened. A new chapter.”
She welcomed the challenge of facing a top-five side the current squad has never met.
“It’s always more exciting to play a higher-ranked team than us, because we get to challenge ourselves and see where we are as a group. The coaches will also know how we step up to that level.”
Squad depth tested ahead of Ireland clash
Solontsi will take the captaincy with Babalwa Latsha ruled out through injury and the front row reshuffled, a situation she says the squad’s development pathways have prepared them for.
“With the academy sides, under-20s and now the SA Schools, anyone who comes into the system can slot in easily,” she said.
“The new front row is not necessarily new players; it’s players who have played in the team before and are familiar with the system. We’ve seen at training this week, they just jumped in.”
She added that the leadership group is backing each other through the change.
“Whoever is not available, the next person is available to step up.”
Yonela Ngxingolo set for historic 50th cap
There is also a milestone to celebrate, with Yonela Ngxingolo set to earn her 50th cap off the bench, becoming only the second woman in South Africa to reach the mark after the retired Nolusindiso Booi.
“It’s a very big thing for our group, that we can actually have people that reach 50,” Solontsi said.
“It shows her resilience within the system and just fighting to stay within the system and keep playing. It’s a very big achievement for us and the team as a whole.”
For a squad building toward 2029, tomorrow is both a measuring stick and a fresh start.
