The Bok Women head into Saturday’s historic clash against the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium with confidence after convincing performances against the USA and Fiji.
Johannesburg, South Africa (03 September 2026) – The Springbok Women are getting another shot at the Black Ferns, and this time, they believe they have a few more tricks up their sleeves.
And many do not realise how much of a big deal this is. The two sides meet at FNB Stadium on Saturday in a historic Test, giving the Bok Women a chance to measure just how much they have developed since their frustrating Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand last year.
Catha Jacobs says that loss has stayed with the team, particularly after South Africa went into halftime level at 10-10 against one of the most successful sides in women’s rugby.
“It was great to have made the last eight for the first time ever and even better to be 10-10 at halftime with a team that dominated World Cups over decades. That second half did not go our way and we were frustrated afterwards, wishing we could turn back the clock.”
Now, almost a year later, the Bok Women have another opportunity, and Jacobs believes their game has evolved since that meeting. Yes, they have met in the past, but not on South African soil.
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South African Siblings Strike Gold and Bronze on the World Dance StageSouth Africa remain a team that enjoys the physical side of rugby, particularly when it comes to setting the tone up front. But recent performances against the USA Women’s Eagles and during their clean sweep tour of Fiji have shown there is more to their game than simply muscle.
Jacobs has experienced that development first-hand after spending time with the Springbok Women’s Sevens squad following the World Cup.
She says the switch to sevens sharpened both her conditioning and skill set, and that those improvements have carried over into her fifteens rugby.
“I joined the sevens after the Women’s Rugby World Cup and played in the various HSBC SVNS tournaments, which was great for my conditioning, but also my skill level, which improved as well,” she explained.
The Bok Women have also been boosted by several players who made the same move into sevens, adding another dimension to a team that Jacobs says is continuing its upward curve.
“They had some good performances in the World Cup as well, but I believe we improved most of the three. That belief will be tested on Saturday, but then, that is what Test rugby is all about.”
The Bok Women face the Black Ferns at 13h30 on Saturday at FNB Stadium, with the match forming part of the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry double-header. The Test will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
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