Springbok Women’s squad announced for Canada Test

THE Springbok Women are under no illusions about the challenge that awaits them when they take on the in-form Canada, the world No 2, at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria next week Saturday week, as they step up preparations for the Rugby World Cup.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

A number of players who have been named in the initial squad of 26 will still have vivid memories of the last time the two teams met in 2023. Canada humbled the Springbok Women 66-7 in that Test, on March 25, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.

The South Africans will be keen to set the record straight on home soil. History, and recent form, suggest that won't be an easy task, however.

The Springbok team’s performance coach, Swys de Bruin, said they are under no illusions about the challenge ahead as Canada achieved stunning success in the recent Pacific Four tournament. They beat Australia 45-7 in Brisbane, drew 27-27 with New Zealand in Christchurch, and beat the USA 26-14 in Kansas City.

“They are second in the world, and we are ranked twelfth, so the gap is massive, and we are certainly huge underdogs,” said De Bruin.

“But we wanted to be tested against a top side before the Rugby World Cup and this is it. We are hoping to be tested physically and tactically by Canada and our focus will be on how to respond to those challenges.”