Ten Try Springbok Women Hammer Uganda in Rugby Africa Cup Opener
The Springbok Women scored ten tries as they kicked their Rugby Africa Women’s Cup title defence off on a winning note with a 62-7 victory over Uganda on a sunny and breezy afternoon at Stade Makis in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on Saturday, 7 June 2025.
Eight players made their Test debuts for South Africa, while they also gave a number of fringe players valuable game time to show the value of a good player pipeline.
The way in which they dismantled the Lady Cranes bodes well for the future and will make the selectors’ job even tougher when they have to finalise the Rugby World Cup squad in a few weeks’ time.
Playing with the wind in their backs in the first half, the Springbok Women showed good variation in play, going the direct route and then wide to keep the Ugandan defence honest. Loose forward Lerato Makua and debutants Faith Tshauke (No. 8) and Patience Mokone (wing) all crossed for braces.
South Africa were in control for most of the match and deservedly led 29-0 at the break, but it could have been more, with a number of unforced errors creeping into their game.
The Bok Women scored at regular intervals during the opening stanza, with Makua scoring a first-half brace, while Simamkele Namba (wing), Byrhandré Dolf (fullback) and Tshauke also crossed for tries. Mary Zulu (flyhalf) added two conversions.
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Makua went over under the uprights in the fifth minute and Namba, back from sevens duty, was worked over in the corner after good play from a strong attacking scrum six minutes later to give South Africa a 12-0 lead.
Tshauke, looking impressive at No 8, was rewarded for her strong early play with a try on debut in the 16th minute before Dolf’s try, seven minutes later, also came after the Bok Women found space outside.
It took South Africa another 15 minutes before Makua crashed over for her second after the team showed great patience on attack in the Ugandan 22.
The South Africans were out of the blocks in no time after the break as Tshauke added her second try with a strong run off the back of a scrum in the 42nd minute, and shortly thereafter the speedy Mokone scored a breakaway try from her own 10m line, with Zulu converting both to make it 43-0 for the Bok Women with just over half an hour to go.
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Uganda scored against the run of play when Suzan Adong (flanker) intercepted and raced away, but the Bok Women were not done yet and added another three tries to their tally, with Aphiwe Ngwevu (centre) and Sinothile Bhengu (replacement prop) – with a try on debut – proving unstoppable at close quarters, before Mokone linked up well with her inside backs for her second five-pointer.
Uganda finished strong but failed to breach South Africa’s impressive defence, with the Bok Women continuing their impressive form until the 80th minute to seal a great victory.
Opening Rugby Africa Women’s Cup Test Match Result
Springbok Women 62 (29) — 7 (0) Uganda Lady Cranes
South Africa Scorers:
Tries: Lerato Makua (2), Simamkele Namba, Faith Tshauke (2), Byrhandré Dolf, Patience Mokone (2), Aphiwe Ngwevu, Sinothile Bhengu
Conversions: Mary Zulu (4), Dolf, Unam Tose
Uganda Lady Cranes Scorers:
Try: Suzan Adong
Conversion: Priscovia Mukyala
Rugby Africa Women’s Cup Fixtures
7 June: South Africa 62 – 7 Uganda
11 June, 12h00: Kenya
15 June, 14h00: Madagascar
CAT times, all matches at Stade Makis, Antananarivo
Springbok Women Team against Uganda
15. Byrhandrѐ Dolf (Bulls Daisies) – 17 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
14. Simamkele Namba (Springbok Women’s Sevens) – 11 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
13. Chuma Qawe (Bulls Daisies) – 11 caps, 0 points
12. Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 24 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
11. Patience Mokone (Bulls Daisies) – uncapped
10. Mary Zulu (Sharks Women) – 12 caps, 14 points (7 conversions)
9. Unam Tose (Bulls Daisies) – 23 caps, 5 points (1 try)
8. Faith Tshauke (Bulls Daisies) – uncapped
7. Lerato Makua (Bulls Daisies) – 10 caps, 0 points
6. Anushka Groenewald (DHL Western Province) – uncapped
5. Anathi Qolo (captain, Bulls Daisies) – 6 caps, 0 points
4. Nomsa Mokwai (DHL Western Province) – 4 caps, 0 points
3. Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 1 cap, 0 points
2. Luchell Hanekom (DHL Western Province) – 4 caps, 0 points
1. Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions) – 5 caps, 0 points
Replacements
16. Roseline Botes (DHL Western Province) – 21 caps, 45 points (9 tries)
17. Anuchka Ekron (DHL Western Province) uncapped
18. Sinothile Bhengu (Sharks Women) – uncapped
19. Dineo Ndlhovu (Bulls Daisies) – uncapped
20. Nobuhle Mjwara (Sharks Women) – uncapped
21. Felicia Jacobs (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 7 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
22. Leigh Fortuin (DHL Western Province) – uncapped
23. Nomawethu Mabenge (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 18 caps, 70 points (14 tries)
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Faith Tshauke earned her first cap in style, dotting down twice for the Springbok Women, who scored ten tries to kick their Rugby Africa Women’s Cup title defence off on a winning note with a 62-7 victory over Uganda on a sunny and breezy afternoon at Stade Makis in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on Saturday, 7 June, 2025. All Photos: Rugby Afrique
Photo Caption: Patience Mokone had a close watch on her, but still managed to score a brace against Uganda in the Africa Cup title defence.
Photo Caption: Four try conversions by Mary Zulu added to those slotted by Byrhandré Dolf and Unam Tose in South Africa’s first outing.
Photo Caption: South Africa’s Springbok Women will face a stern test against Kenya at 12 noon (CAT) on Wednesday, 11 June.
Crédito: Link de origem