Maria Tshiremba scored three second half tries on debut to secure the Springbok Women a hard-fought 29-22 victory over the Fijiana XV at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Saturday as they claimed a 2-0 series win in the process.
It took some brilliance from the Bok wing to break the Fijian stronghold on the game, as the home side looked comfortable at the break, leading 10-5 and playing most of the rugby in the opening half.
Tshiremba opened the second half scoring as the Bok Women took a 12-10 lead, while a second try edged them into a 17-10 lead. Fiji kept coming back though, but a third try in the 78th minute by the speedster shut out the host team.
It was a totally different game to last week in Suva, with Fiji much more focused and the South Africans looking disjointed at times.
Fiji came out of the blocks fast. Two breakdown penalties against South Africa handed the early momentum to the home side and when wing Atelaite Buna scored in the left corner, it was clear that the home side came to play.
The Bok Women, on the other hand, were a bit sloppy in the opening minutes, making handling errors which slowed down their momentum. The backline’s passing was not at its best in the early exchanges.
As usual, they could revert to their pack and first phase possession to stem the Fijian flow of energy and try-line assaults. The forwards had to change the tone of the game and 16 minutes in, they did just that.
A powerful scrum yielded a penalty, and they kicked to the corner for an attacking lineout. Lindelwa Gwala crashed over from a superb drive, scoring her 17th try in her 40th Test, which levelled scores and eased the mood a bit.
Fiji, with the wind in their backs, played a high-risk offloading game and that suited the visitors, as their scrum were just too strong for the home side, who conceded up a number of penalties in this phase.
Two yellow cards in quick succession by the Springbok Women did not help their efforts to get back into the game.
First, Zintle Mpupha was binned for cynical play at the breakdown, much to the surprise of the experienced midfielder. Fiji capitalised, with two weak tackles seeing Adi Vani Buleki go over. That score pushed the host team back in the lead after 30 minutes.
The second yellow card – this time to Anacadia Minnaar – also showed the intent of referee Amber McLachlan to punish defence against quick taps from penalties and suddenly it was 13 playing 15. Amazingly, the South Africans held out on defence for the rest of the half, not conceding any points in that time.
The second half belonged to Tshiremba for her try-scoring feat, but a few others will look back at their effort with fondness as well.
With Mpupha and Minnaar back on the field and South Africa attacking well from a lineout, Tshiremba pounced. The ball was moved through the hands, and a great run and release by Maceala Samboya gave the wing open space and a first Test try on debut. Byrhandré Dolf converted for a 12-10 lead.
Suddenly there was urgency in the Bok Women’s efforts. A strong maul by the pack forced a penalty, and from the resulting rumble near the Fijian line, the hosts were penalised again. A handling error unfortunately cost the visitors as the ball was lost with the line in sight, but with precedent set about cynical play, Fiji prop Karalaini Naisewa was binned.
With their set piece under pressure, a wayward kick by the Fijians resulted in a second Tshiremba try that ripped the game open. The kick found the flyer, who was secure under the high ball all afternoon, and she raced away to score in the corner, leaving two defenders in her wake. Dolf could not convert, but the South Africans deserved their 17-10 lead.
That was short-lived though as Fiji, still a player down, outworked the SA defence. A poor restart-receive placed massive pressure on the Bok Women’s defence and something had to give, which in this case, was a try to replacement Adi Salote Nailolo. The conversion was good and the scores were even again with 20 minutes to play.
The Bok Women thought they had scored soon after when Libbie Janse van Rensburg crashed over following a good break by Vainah Ubisi, but she was held up over the line.
Fiji kicked the goal line restart directly into touch and the Bok Women opted for a scrum. They started a maul from that phase and eventually Ubisi got her reward with a try under the uprights – her seventh in Tests. Dolf converted and the lead was back to a converted try with 12 minutes to play.
Again, it was Fiji who came back with some entertaining attacking play and the lead was cut down with a try by outside centre Ivamere Rokowati with five minutes to play, but the conversion went wide to leave South Africa 24-22 in the lead.
Fiji lost yet another player for cynical play when a pass by Patience Mokone on the attack was slapped down. The Bok Women kicked to the corner and after several hit-ups by the pack, the ball was sent wide and Tshiremba scored her third try, much to the delight of her team-mates.
Dolf’s conversion was wide, but the damage was done and South Africa walked away series winners and with their sixth win in seven matches.
Scorers:
Fiji 22 (10) – Tries: Atelaite Buna, Adi Vani Buleki, Adi Salote Nailolo, Ivamere Rokowati. Conversion: Varanaise Qoro.
Springbok Women 29 (5) – Tries: Lindelwa Gwala, Maria Tshiremba (3), Vainah Ubisi. Conversions: Byrhandre Dolf (2).
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