The South African women's rugby team, the Springbok Women, are set to face Italy on Saturday, looking to bounce back from a 50-19 loss to Wales on Friday. The match in Cardiff was a tough lesson for the team, but winger Ayanda Malinga believes they can recover and secure a win against Italy. The Springbok Women have a good record against Italy, having beaten them 29-24 in York last year during the Women's Rugby World Cup.
The victory over Italy last year was significant for the Springbok Women, as it helped them advance to the quarterfinals for the first time and move into the top ten in the world rankings. Malinga described the match as a special one that will always be remembered. Despite the loss to Wales, the team had a strong training session on Monday in Udine, which has boosted their confidence. Malinga said they have done good work and have clarity on how to beat Italy.
Malinga, who has scored 17 tries in 21 tests, expects Italy to fight back hard after last year's loss, which eliminated them from the World Cup. She emphasized the importance of the match, saying the team needs to regain their footing and make a statement on the tour. Maceala Samboya, who scored a try against Wales, said the team gave themselves 24 hours to reflect on the loss before shifting their focus to Italy.
Junior Springbok assistant coach Melusi Mthethwa has joined the team for the rest of the tour and will assist co-head coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September in preparing for the tests against Italy and Spain. The match against Italy will take place on Saturday at 14:30 South African time in Pordenone.
The Springbok Women's team has been working hard to improve their performance, and Malinga believes they have the skills and determination to secure a win against Italy. The team's loss to Wales was a setback, but they are eager to bounce back and show their capabilities.
Italy will be looking to avenge their loss to South Africa last year, and Malinga expects a tough match. However, she is confident that the team has the talent and experience to overcome the challenge. The Springbok Women's team has been making progress in recent years, and a win against Italy would be a significant step forward.
The match against Italy is an important one for the Springbok Women, and they will be looking to make a statement on the tour. With a strong training session behind them and a clear plan in place, the team is confident that they can secure a win and move forward in the WXV series.
Key points
- The Springbok Women are looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Wales with a win against Italy in their second WXV series match.
- The team has a good record against Italy, having beaten them 29-24 in York last year during the Women's Rugby World Cup.
- A win against Italy would be a significant step forward for the Springbok Women, who have been making progress in recent years.
