Springbok Women wing Ayanda Malinga remains optimistic about her team's chances of bouncing back from a disappointing 50-19 defeat to Wales in Cardiff last weekend. The team has been preparing for their WXV Global Series match against Italy on Saturday, and Malinga believes they have learned from their previous encounter. She recalled their impressive performance against Italy at the Women's Rugby World Cup in England last year, where they secured a 29-24 victory, helping them qualify for the quarter-finals.
The Springbok Women have maintained their top 10 ranking in the world, thanks to their previous performance. However, the recent defeat to Wales served as a reminder of the brutality of Test rugby if the team is not at their best. Malinga emphasized that the team has taken this lesson to heart and is now focused on their upcoming match against Italy. The squad arrived in Italy late on Sunday and began training in Udine on Monday, with Malinga expressing confidence in their preparation.
Malinga, who scored against Italy last year and has 17 tries in 21 Tests, attributes her success to teamwork. She believes that every try she scores starts with the team's forwards creating momentum and setting up space for the backs. The team's forwards have been impressive in creating opportunities, and Malinga is confident that they can combine effectively to take on Italy.
Italy will be looking to avenge their defeat in the World Cup, which knocked them out of the competition. Malinga warned that Italy will come hard at the Springbok Women, but she believes her team is prepared for the challenge. The team's outside back, Maceala Samboya, also expressed confidence in their preparation, highlighting the intense backline battle that is expected on Saturday.
Samboya, who scored a try in the defeat to Wales, emphasized that the team has moved on from their previous match and is focused on their upcoming game against Italy. The team has been boosted by the arrival of Junior Springbok assistant coach Melusi Mthethwa, who has joined the squad for the remainder of the tour. SA Rugby's General Manager for High-Performance, Dave Wessels, will also join the team in Italy later in the week.
The Springbok Women's match against Italy is their second in the WXV Global Series, and Malinga believes a victory will give the team a reason to smile again. She emphasized that the team needs to redeem themselves and make a statement on this tour, and this weekend's match against Italy is an opportunity to do so.
The match against Italy will kick off at 14h30 (SA time) on Saturday at the Stadio Omero Tognon in Pordenone. Malinga and her teammates will look to build on their previous success and secure a win against a determined Italian team. With the right mindset and preparation, the Springbok Women are confident that they can bounce back from their previous defeat and make a statement in the WXV Global Series.
Key points
- Springbok Women wing Ayanda Malinga is confident in her team's ability to bounce back from a 50-19 defeat to Wales.
- The team has maintained their top 10 ranking in the world despite their recent defeat.
- The Springbok Women will face Italy in their second WXV Global Series match on Saturday.
