Malinga confident Bok Women can bounce back

Springbok Women wing Ayanda Malinga recalled the positive emotions experienced when they outplayed Italy at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England just over a year ago. She expressed confidence that they could replicate that performance when the two sides face each other this weekend. The Test against Italy marks South Africa’s second match in the WXV Global Series and kicks off at 14h30 (SA time) on Saturday in the Stadio Omero Tognon in Pordenone.

Last year, South Africa achieved a narrow victory against Italy, winning 29-24 in York on August 31, which enabled them to qualify for the quarter-finals of the women’s global tournament for the first time, elevating the team into the top 10 of the world rankings. This ranking is still maintained, though the team faced a tough 50-19 defeat to Wales in Cardiff last weekend, a humbling reminder of the challenges of Test rugby. Malinga acknowledged that the team took this defeat seriously.

Having arrived in Italy late on Sunday, the squad began with a solid training session in Udine on Monday, where they are based for the week. Malinga, who scored against Italy last year, noted that their preparation has fostered confidence within the group. "That game will forever be in the memory bank; it was a special performance," she commented. "However, we approached this week with a different mindset after the defeat, which was tough to handle. Today's session boosted our spirits, allowing us to get some solid work done with clarity on how we could beat Italy."

Malinga has scored 17 tries in 21 Tests, attributing this success to teamwork. She stated, "Every try I've scored started somewhere, and while it’s credited to me, the team deserves recognition as well. Our forwards excel at creating momentum and setting up space for the backs, and when we collaborate, we are effective."

Malinga warned that Italy would come at them strongly, fueled by their heartbreak from the previous World Cup defeat. "We are ready for that challenge, I believe," she asserted. A win in Italy would allow the team to redeem themselves. "We need to restore our pride and make a statement during this tour, and this weekend is that opportunity," Malinga emphasized.

Her teammate, outside back Maceala Samboya, acknowledged the intensity of the upcoming backline battle. "Italy is continually improving, and their integration of backs into the game has been impressive. This presents a welcomed challenge for us, and we are prepared for it.” Samboya, who also scored a try in the defeat to Wales, confirmed that they spent 24 hours reflecting on that loss before shifting focus to Italy.

Additionally, the Junior Springbok assistant coach, Melusi Mthethwa, joined the squad for the remainder of their tour to support co-head coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September as they prepare for their upcoming matches against Italy and Spain. Dave Wessels, SA Rugby’s General Manager for High-Performance, aided the team in Wales and will rejoin them in Italy later in the week.