Bok Women’s backline changes ignited attack against Canada

THE Springbok Women’s backline reshuffle in the second half of Saturday’s defeat to Canada sparked the attack into life and may offer coach Swys de Bruin a blueprint for the second match this coming weekend.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

The Bok Women were beaten 50-20 in a physical encounter against the world’s second-ranked team at Loftus on Saturday afternoon.

Their backs struggled to cope with the smothering defence during an opening stanza where the only South African points came via a penalty landed by wing Jakkie Cilliers.

However, a raft of backline changes in the second half injected more flair and fluency into the Bok attack, as they broke the Canadian shackles and finally started asking questions of the visiting defence.

Livewire Nadine Roos was moved from fullback to scrumhalf, Eloise Webb came in at flyhalf, Libbie Janse van Rensburg slotted in at inside centre, and Byrhandrè Dolf was introduced at fullback.