The Lady Sables got a rude awakening on their return to international action after suffering a heavy 108-0 defeat against the South Africa Springbok Women in their opening match in Pool A of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup at City Park in Cape Town on Wednesday.
Zimbabwe’s national women’s fifteens rugby team was no match for the Springbok Women after conceding 17 tries with Nomawethu Mabenge (wing) and Aphiwe Ngwevu (centre) each bagging a hat-trick for the South Africans.
Mabenge scored her first try in the third minute and from then on in, a South African try became a regular feature of the match.
Zintle Mpupha followed shortly after Mabenge’s run down the line before the forwards took matters in their hands. Lindelwa Gwala (hooker) was the beneficiary of a good lineout drive by her pack, scoring the third try of the match.
Zimbabwe enjoyed some possession and moved into the half of the Bok Women, only to concede a turnover and another try. Libbie Janse van Rensburg broke well and when stopped, the flyhalf putting wing Ayanda Malinga in space and over in the corner.
Industrious No 8 Sizo Solontzi was next on the score sheet off the back of another strong drive from the lineout before Mpupha sliced through for her second.
The awareness of the SA side on attack brought them the next try. Zimbabwe tried to clear from near their line, but the kick failed to find touch, and in a flash Lusanda Dumke was worked over.
Mabenge was on the score sheet for a second time soon after, again following a bruising run down the line.
Good interplay handed the home side their next five pointer when Sinazo Mcatshulwa scored. The forwards created good go forward ball with a number of drives, the backs exploited the space and from a resulting ruck, the loose forward found herself in space.
That brough the 50 up, with the try closing the half out with the Bok Women 53-0 in the lead.
The second half scoring was opened by Tayla Kinsey who kicked a penalty goal and soon had a conversion as well, as Nadine Roos (fullback) scored her first five-pointer in Test match rugby.
Mabenge got her brace soon after with Kinsey converting to take the score to 75-0. It then became the Ngwevu show with the powerful centre scoring three times in the half, with a second by Solontsi and Malinga the other five pointers.
Zenay Jordaan converted the Malinga try that brought up 100 points on the scoreboard, and then converted Ngwevu’s third as well as the Bok Women ran out of time.
Scorers:
South Africa 108 (53) – Tries: Nomawethu Mabenge (3), Zintle Mpupha (2), Lindelwa Gwala, Ayanda Malinga (2), Sizo Solontsi (2), Lusanda Dumke, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Nadine Roos, Tayla Kinsey, Aphiwe Ngwevu (3). Conversions: Libbie Janse van Rensburg (4), Tayla Kinsey (2), Zenay Jordaan (4). Penalty goal: Kinsey.
All over at City Park. 108-0 win pic.twitter.com/VKzmhdsIR5
— Springbok Women (@WomenBoks) June 15, 2022