Brazil Edge Past Gutsy Mary Zulu-Led SA Women ‘A’ in Tour Opener
The South African Women ‘A’ side went down 34-12 to Brazil, having trailed 24-12 at halftime, in a match where valuable experience and lessons would have been learned, at the Estádio Nicolau Alayon in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Monday 24 August 2026.
The match, the first of two to be played on tour, exposed the lack of match experience at this level for the South African outfit, but many positives will be taken back to the drawing board for the second match on Saturday 29 August 2026, also in Sao Paulo.
There are very talented players coming through the ranks and that was clear in a performance where the result tells one story and the effort another.
It was a lively start to the match. South Africa received the kick-off, but lost possession and from a couple of powerful bursts, Brazil scored for a 5-0 lead. The home side had a clear advantage of playing together as a team and that showed early as the SA defence was tested and found wanting.
The South Africans replied immediately. From the restart, they worked their way up the field with good interplay and when Brazil was penalised for being offside, Mary Zulu kicked to the corner for an attacking lineout.
That was duly won and No 8 Emihle Mayitshe was at the back of a great drive for their first points on tour. Zulu converted and nine minutes in, the visitors were 7-5 up.
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Brazil came charging back, again with their fluent interplay working well against a SA defensive line that was not as tight as needed. Their counterattack from deep, with a number of pin-point passes, had the SA defence outnumbered, and they reclaimed the lead 13 minutes in (12-7).
South Africa came back immediately though via a lovely team try finished by Hayley Hardneck. From the restart, several good offloads offered space out wide and a great pass by Shaunique Alexander handed her fullback the ball in open space and she scored in the corner. Zulu’s conversion was wide but the scores were level after 15 minutes.
Almost as per script, the home side had the next strike. The visitors were penalised twice in a row for offside lines as their defence tried to cope with the inter-passing by the hosts and from a second quick tap and drive, they scored again for a 17-12 lead.
South Africa rallied well, but spurned two chances to score, first when an attacking lineout went nowhere and then when left wing Lithalethu Nombakuse could not hold on to the ball in a good attacking position.
Brazil then went coast to coast to score the best try of the half and the match. They won a lineout near their own line, an inside pass found the SA defence napping and several passes later, right wing Thalita Costa scored in the opposite corner and side of the field where the move began. The conversion handed the host team a 24-12 lead at the break.
The second half almost started in the same fashion as the home side attacked well, but a final pass went astray for Brazil. The match tempo also tapered off quite a bit as injuries started to slow down the game and fatigue set in.
A great opportunity 17 minutes into the second half created a controversial moment. From an attacking lineout and a couple of bursts, Zulu scored but the try was disallowed as the assistant referee saw her dropping the ball, much to the dismay of the SA captain, who even demonstrated her try scoring technique to the referee.
Instead, five minutes later, it was the home side who finished off a lineout drive to extend the lead to 29-12 and after 63 minutes of rugby, that lead seemed to be a winning one.
SA Women ‘A’ head coach Bafana Nhleko looked at his bench for a remedy and although halfback Camelitha Malone brought some pace into the match, errors continued to spoil a gutsy effort by the visitors.
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A lineout from close range went astray, non-rolling defenders went unattended and passes started to drop. No SA women’s side will ever leave without a fight though and neither did this one, but in the end, they just lacked the finishing touches and experience needed.
A late Brazil try made the winning margin a flattering one for the hosts, who fielded several players who formed part of their Women’s Rugby World Cup squad in 2025.
The Brazil ‘A’ vs. SA Women ‘A’ Tour from 24 to 29 August 2026 in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Mon 24 Aug: Brazil ‘A’ 34(24) – 12(12) SA Women ‘A’
Sat 29 Aug: Brazil ‘A’ vs. SA Women ‘A’
Scorers
Brazil ‘A’ – Tries: Luiza Gonzalez, Mariana Moreira, Lohana Valente, Larissa Carvalho, Thalita Costa, Julia Leni
Conversions: Lohana Valente (2)
SA Women ‘A’ – Tries: Emihle Mayitshe, Hayley Hardneck
Conversion: Mary Zulu
SA Women ‘A’ Squad
Forwards
Anuschka Ekron* (DHL Western Province)
Iviwe Jonas (DHL Western Province)
Luchell Hanekom* (DHL Western Province)
Jada Davids (DHL Western Province)
Anothando Khatshwa (DHL Western Province)
Abigail Smit* (DHL Western Province)
Kaylee Daniels (DHL Western Province)
Courtney Hickson (DHL Western Province)
Yonelisa Plaatjies (DHL Western Province)
Karabo Lebotsa (Isuzu Bulls Daisies)
Sinothile Bhengu* (Sharks Women)
Avela Gwala (Sharks Women)
Vanessa Gabadi (Limpopo Blue Bulls)
Zethu Gcaza* (Border Ladies)
Emihle Mayitshe (Border Ladies)
Yonda Nokwe (EP Queens)
Backs
Insaaf Levy* (DHL Western Province)
Anitha Fazi (DHL Western Province)
Mary Zulu* (captain, Sharks Women)
Lithalethu Nombakuse (EP Queens)
Isabella Nel (unattached)
Lilitha Vakalisa (Border Ladies)
Thobile Msizazwe (Isuzu Bulls Daisies)
Camelitha Malone (Isuzu Bulls Daisies)
Shaunique Alexander* (Isuzu Bulls Daisies)
Hayley Hardneck (Sanlam Boland Dames)
* Capped Springbok Women marked with an asterisk
Travelling Management
Bafana Nhleko (Head Coach)
Nandipa Manjezi (Team Manager)
Bongiwe Nhleko (Assistant Coach)
Obakeng Molopyane (Athletic Performance Coach)
Dr Lizanne Pieterse (Team Doctor)
Reagan Cele (Physiotherapist)
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: The SA Women ‘A’ side fought hard on their first outing on tour but went down 34-12 to Brazil, with Emihle Mayitshe and Hayley Hardneck scoring the visitors’ tries, at the Estádio Nicolau Alayon in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Monday 24 August 2026. All Photos: SA Rugby / Gallo Images
Photo 2 Caption: Emihle Mayitshe scored first points the SA Women ‘A’ tour of Brazil from a lineout drive, and Hayley Hardneck crossed for the second try to level the scores early on.
Crédito: Link de origem