Springbok Women focus on test match against Spain

JOHANNESBURG – Springbok Women officially launch “Operation Spain” following their arrival in Alicante on Sunday

After completing the French leg of their European tour, the Bok Women now face Spain in a Test match on Saturday, April 19, at Campo de Rugby Amorós Palao in Elche.

They will play their hosts in a once-off Test in Alicante on 19 April and return to South Africa on 21 April.

READ: 32-player Springbok Women's squad named for Euro tour

“Since we arrived and started with our team meetings and now training, all the focus is on Spain and their strengths and weaknesses. We left what happened in Marcoussis – good as it was – behind in France and came to Spain with this Test match in mind,” said Swys de Bruin in a statement.

The Springbok Women and Spain have clashed seven times since 2019, establishing a competitive rivalry.

The two countries have played each other five times in the last three years.

South Africa won the last encounter, at DHL Stadium in Cape Town in September last year, by 36-19.

“Conditions will be different, the venue will be different, and players change, so the main focus for us on Saturday will be effort and execution.”

“They had some additions to their squad since we last played, so we are expecting some changes from their side, but then, we are also looking for improvement and tweaks in certain areas. One thing that I have learned in Test rugby is that the previous game does not really count for the next one.

“We are quite close to each other on the world ranking as well, so it will come down to the team that executes the best on the day,” said De Bruin.