Resilience Overcomes Rust as Springbok Women Fight Past Uganda

The Springbok Women maintained their historic unbeaten streak against African opposition on Wednesday, securing a 47-20 victory over Uganda in Nairobi. However, the scoreline masked a challenging afternoon at the RFUEA Ground, where the South Africans were forced to dig deep after a sluggish start. In a match characterized by disciplinary hurdles and a spirited Ugandan offensive, the "Bok Women" relied on their clinical finishing in the second half to pull away, ensuring their path to the tournament decider remains intact.

A Shaky Start and Defensive Lapses

The opening exchanges belonged entirely to Uganda, who stunned the favorites by racing into a 12-0 lead within the first 12 minutes. Capitalizing on missed first-time tackles and a lack of defensive cohesion from the South Africans, the East Africans crossed the line twice to put the defending champions under immediate pressure. Assistant coach Franzel September noted that the team struggled to respond to Uganda’s ability to keep the ball alive, providing a "good lesson" for a squad featuring several fresh faces.

South Africa began the long climb back in the 17th minute when debutant wing Shaunique Alexander finished a move sparked by a powerful run from Thandile Mazwi. Alichia Arries followed suit in the 30th minute to level the scores at 12-12. While No. 8 Logan Welman eventually surged over to give South Africa their first lead of the match, a yellow card to debutant lock Zethu Gcaza for a high tackle allowed Uganda to strike back, leaving the game delicately poised at 19-17 at the interval.

Asserting Dominance in the Second Stanza

The halftime talk clearly resonated, as the Springbok Women emerged with greater tactical discipline. Although they struggled at times with the referee’s interpretations at the breakdown, the injection of energy from the bench allowed the South Africans to take control of the tempo.

The second half featured a series of decisive scores:

• Thamie Yeko caught the defense napping with a sharp quick-tap penalty try.

• Naima Hlatshwayo celebrated her first Test try to extend the cushion.

• Faith Tshauke powered over following a well-executed lineout drive.

• Alichia Arries completed her brace after the backs exploited a lineout steal, with Jakkie Cilliers remaining reliable off the tee to finish with six conversions.

Despite a late penalty goal from Uganda, the South African defense remained largely unbreached in the second period, showing the resilience needed to see out a scrappy encounter.

Match Summary & Scorers

Team

Half-Time

Full-Time

Tries

Springbok Women

19

47

Arries (2), Alexander, Welman, Yeko, Hlatshwayo, Tshauke

Uganda

17

20

Lekuru, Kateesa, Nambozo

Conversions: Jakkie Cilliers (6)

Final Whistle

This was a performance defined more by character than by polish. While the Springbok Women will be concerned by the early 12-point deficit and the high penalty count, the ability to reset and dominate the final forty minutes remains the mark of a champion side. Assistant coach September emphasized that the "adversity" faced in this match would serve as vital preparation for the upcoming final against Kenya.

With the tournament trophy on the line this Sunday, the South Africans must tighten their discipline if they are to silence a home crowd in Nairobi and cement their status as the continent's premier force.

The final showdown is nearly here as the Springbok Women prepare to take on the host nation, Kenya, in a massive tournament decider. You can catch all the action this Sunday, May 31, 2026, with the match scheduled to kick off at 15:00 (South African Time) / 16:00 (East Africa Time) at the RFUEA Ground in Nairobi. With both teams heading into this final round unbeaten, it’s set to be a high-stakes battle for the continental crown. 

All image credits: SA Women's Rugby

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