Photo Credit: Speedshots.co.za
Two experienced Springbok front rankers, Steven Kitshoff and Bongi Mbonambi spent a productive session with the Springbok Women in Stellenbosch on Tuesday as part of the training squad’s preparations for the Rugby World Cup later this year in New Zealand.
The 2021 Rugby World Cup takes place in New Zealand in September and the national women’s squad are currently hard at work for their participation in the showpiece event.
The Bok duo’s visit follows on the heels of Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber and scrum coach Daan Human, who also recently spent time at the Bok Women’s training base.
Cape Town-based Kitshoff and Mbonambi directed an hour-long scrum session during pleasant summer conditions in picturesque Stellenbosch.
Speaking to www.springboks.rugby afterwards, Kitshoff said they thoroughly enjoyed the technical session and interaction with the women players.
“We worked with a bunch of players that are so enthusiastic, very open to advise and eager to ask questions, and to immediately try and apply what we shared with them,” said Kitshoff.
“They’re a great group with a real hunger to establish themselves, play the game to the best of their ability and to develop as a squad.”
Kitshoff, a member of the Boks’ 2019 RWC-winning team, added that he was impressed with the squad’s potential.
“They are South African forwards so they’re big and strong and I see a promising future for them as a squad if they continue to develop and work hard, as I’ve seen them doing in Stellies,” he said.
Springbok Women's prop Babalwa Latsha loved the experience of working with her fellow front rankers.
"Working with Bongi and Steven was quite informative - they shared some very good skills and tricks with us and I made a number of important mental notes," said Latsha.
"To get some insights straight from horse's mouth, so to speak, and scrumming with them were quite motivational and inspiring - they are the best at what they do and I enjoyed it a lot."
A group of 24 Springbok Women’s players assembled in Stellenbosch last month for a two-and-a-half-month training camp with an eye on the RWC, which will be held in Auckland and Whangarei.
More players will join the camp for two weeks towards the end of March, as coach Stanley Raubenheimer and his squad step up preparations for the world event in New Zealand.
The Springbok Women will face France at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday, 18 September (04h15 SA time), England on Thursday, 23 September (09h15) at the Northland Events Centre in Whangarei, and Fiji on Tuesday, 28 September (05h45) at the Waitakere Stadium in Auckland in their Pool C matches.
Source: https://www.sarugby.co.za/
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