The Springbok Women started the 2025 season with a comprehensive 48-26 victory over Spain in Alicante on Saturday, with their powerful pack laying the foundation for a strong performance.
The South Africans scored five first-half tries, of which three were converted, as they built a deserving 31-5 lead over their hosts.
The Bok Women added two tries to put them out of reach in the second half, but the Spanish side finished the stronger as they piled on the pressure and were rewarded with three well-deserved tries near the end.
In the first half, the powerful South African pack laid the foundation for a solid lead. They dominated the set-piece collisions and ensured the Bok Women enjoyed the majority of possession and territory.
The South Africans also looked dangerous whenever they spread the ball wide, with Nadine Roos her normal elusive self with the ball in hand.
A scrum penalty gave the Boks the opportunity to set up an attacking lineout in a good position, and it was Sinazo Mcatshulwa (flanker) who went over for the first try of the game, converted by Jakkie Cilliers.
With the SA forwards dominating proceedings, No 8 Aseza Hele was sent over for her first of two first-half tries from driving mauls, with Cilliers adding the extras as the Bok Women took control at 19-0.
A long-range try after a lineout turnover followed, with Roos prominent to send Cilliers over under the posts as they made it 26-0 with just under 10 minutes to go in the opening stanza.
Outgunned, Spain tried gallantly and were rewarded with their first score when Tecia Masoko (right wing) was sent over in the corner to reduce the deficit to 26-5. But just before the break, another maul resulted in a second try for Hela as South Africa went into the halftime break with a comfortable 31-5 lead.
The second half started very much like the first, with the green and gold jerseys dominating possession, and from another powerful scrum Hela picked up from the base, powered her way forward before passing to Libbie Janse van Rensburg to score in the right-hand corner.
This try was followed by Tayla Kinsey’s effort under the posts after the South Africans had hacked the ball upfield from a Spanish mistake. Cilliers easily converted to make it 43-5 with more than 30 minutes remaining.
Spain refused to give up though and the impressive Masoko was sent over as the home team used their scoring opportunity clinically, cutting the lead to 43-12.
And almost straight from the restart, strong running Spanish midfielder Sahia Perez intercepted a loose pass to run as Spain gained 14 points within a few minutes to further reduce the SA lead to 43-19.
Although Yonela Ngxingolo (replacement prop) was sent over for their eighth try of the afternoon, it was Spain who finished stronger when Laura Dalgado scored their third try of the second half to make the final score 48-26.
Scorers:
Spain 26 (5) – Tries: Tecia Masoko (2), Zahia Peres, Laura Delgado. Conversions: Amalia Argudo (3).
South Africa 48 (31) – Tries: Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Aseza Hele (2), Lindelwa Gwala, Jakkie Cilliers, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Tayla Kinsey, Yonela Ngxingolo. Conversions: Cilliers (4).