History! Brave Springbok Women reach Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the first time

THEY have done it! The Springbok Women are through to the quarterfinals of a Rugby World Cup for the first time after showing true South African grit to outlast Italy 29-24 in a dramatic Pool D match in York last night.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

The Boks needed to win two of their three pool matches to make it to the playoffs, and the defeat of Italy, combined with last week's rout of Brazil, means they go through, regardless of the outcome of their final pool game against France next week.

There were scenes of unbridled jubilation at the final whistle as the South Africans enjoyed a moment they had worked so hard for.

In many ways, this game was about the pace of Italy versus the power of South Africa, and it was the latter that prevailed but not by much.

The Boks had a dream start. Italy tried to run the ball out of their 22 and knocked it on. The Bok scrum turned on the afterburners, and Aseza Hele blasted forward and over the line for her fourth try of the tournament.