Springbok Women out of World Cup after Fijian defeat

The Springbok Women's team will not feature in the knockout stages of the 2021 Rugby World Cup after falling to Fiji 21-17 in Auckland. Having lost to France in their opening game of the tournament in Pool C, their second loss has consigned them to a pool stage exit from the flagship competition.

The rugby was fast and loose, perhaps not a game for purists, but hugely entertaining nonetheless.

With both teams evenly matched on the scoreboard and barely a minute left on the clock, South Africa could have been forgiven for expecting their successful penalty kick would seal the win, but Fiji had other ideas, rampaging number eight Karalaini Naisewa crashing over for a try in the dying seconds and Lavena Cavuru coolly slotting the conversion to seal their first World Cup win in their second ever appearance.

Fiji captain Asinate Serevi was in buoyant mood after the game when asked for her thoughts. “There are no words for it. I am so grateful for the girls. We talked about just leaving everything on the field and keeping our composure. We had two minutes left to score that try and we said, ‘just keep it together and be patient. That’s what Fiji are known for – one minute, Fiji can still win the game. We said before the game to have fun and that’s what we did.”

Her opposite number, Nolusindiso Booi saw some positives from her own team too. “There were moments when we had good runs and there were moments when we put in good hits but they won the game because they stuck to their plan and we didn’t stick to ours.”

South Africa and Fiji are the World Cup’s two unknown quantities, with only three of their players featuring in the Allianz Premier 15s. The Springboks Women have had Zintle Mbupha playing for Exeter Chiefs and Catha Jacobs (not picked for today’s game) joined Saracens late in the season after a short time with London Irish ladies. Rachel Laqeretabua, also of Saracens is well known to northern hemisphere fans but otherwise, these teams are both stuffed with names that we’re only beginning to learn about.

From the opening whistle this game could best be described as loose, with both teams throwing the ball about and displaying an interesting take on team defence. It would be nearly a quarter of an hour before the first try would be scored though, Fiji left wing Ilisapeci Delaiwau crossing the whitewash, making the most of her opposite number, South Africa’s number 14 Nomawethu Mabenge, being yellow carded. Cavuru with the conversion.

As the first half drifted on the rugby played was certainly entertaining, but the lack of structure began to show as neither team put together a convincing run of phases without losing possession. South Africa would capitalise with five minutes left on the clock, Mpupha seeing a gap in the Fiji line and charging through to score. Libbie Janse van Rensburg would slot the conversion and the story was set for us to go to half time with both teams on equal points…

But Fiji didn’t read the script. Right wing Akanisi Sokoiwasa getting a try with the clock in the red and Cavuru converting to give us Fiji 14 – 7 South Africa as the whistle blew.

The second half would see a raft of substitutions by both teams early on, causing the already unstructured play to become even looser for a time, but the Women Boks found their rhythm and their powerful number eight Aseza Hele scored, with Janse van Rensburg converting to bring the scores back to level.

From here the teams traded rampaging runs for turnovers, each looking dangerous but neither capitalising. Siteri Rasolea, the Fijian tighthead who continually overpowered her tacklers and played the full 80 minute caught the eye particularly.

With five minutes left on the clock Fiji won a penalty, pointed to the posts and Cavuru stepped up, but her kick soared wide. Four minutes later and it was South Africa’s turn to try for three points and Janse van Rensburg wasn’t going to make the same mistake, her kick sailing between the posts with precision.

It was perhaps a sign of the relative immaturity on display that the Boks kick didn’t see the game out, instead they restarted and Fiji capitalised almost immediately, Naisewa powering through and Cavuru determined not to miss twice.

“It’s a tough one for us but maybe a good lesson for the future. Hopefully this tournament will kick start what can happen in the game in South Africa and at least we are going back with a lot of experience that we didn’t have." South Africa head coach Stanley Raubenheimer said after the game.