South Africa go to the top of Pool D with a commanding win over Brazil in their Rugby World Cup opener.
Northampton, England (25 August 2025) – The Springbok Women could hardly have asked for a better start to their Rugby World Cup 2025 campaign, as they stormed to a 66-6 victory over Brazil at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton. The result not only marked their first win of the tournament but also placed them firmly at the top of Pool D after the opening round of matches.
South Africa were in charge from the opening whistle, with Aseza Hele stealing the show. The No. 8 crossed the try line three times inside 50 minutes, underlining her reputation as one of the team’s most dangerous runners. Her mix of pace and power proved too much for the Brazilian defence, which worked tirelessly but struggled to contain her influence.
There was no shortage of support around her either. Ayanda Malinga and Libbie Janse van Rensburg both bagged a brace of tries, while Nadine Roos, Aphiwe Ngwevu and Lerato Makua also added their names to the scoreboard. Ngwevu, whose attacking spark lit up the contest, was later named Player of the Match.
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Brazil, making their debut on the World Cup stage, showed plenty of heart and determination. Their players threw themselves into the challenge, recording over 130 tackles in the first half alone. It was a brave effort that won the respect of the crowd, but in the end, the South Africans’ experience went far beyond, as they kept their momentum flowing throughout the game.
What made the night even more special was the South African supporters who turned Franklin’s Gardens into a sea of green and gold. Their songs and cheers created a lively atmosphere that the Bok Women seemed to feed off, giving them that extra spark in attack.
For coach Swys de Bruin and his team, this performance was the ideal launchpad. With confidence high, they now head to York for their second Pool D clash against Italy on Sunday, 31 August, before finishing the group stages against France back in Northampton. If their opening outing is anything to go by, the Springbok Women are determined to make a real mark at this year’s World Cup.
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