Dominant Springbok Women Overpower Madagascar in Nairobi Opener
- Karen Scheepers
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
The Springbok Women officially signaled their intent for the 2026 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup with a resounding 64-5 victory over Madagascar at the RFUEA Ground in Nairobi. Despite an early scare that saw the island nation draw first blood, the South Africans flexed their tactical and physical superiority to cross the whitewash ten times. This opening fixture served as a significant barometer for the team's depth, blending the explosive power of seasoned internationals with a clinical edge from a new generation of debutants.
First Half: Shaking Off the Rust
The match began with South Africa dominating territory, but unforced errors and a touch of over-eagerness initially hindered their clinical execution. Against the run of play, Madagascar’s Mialy Ravaoarinoro pounced on a counter-attacking opportunity to score the opening try.
However, the "Bok Women" quickly found their rhythm. Jakkie Cilliers sparked the comeback, finishing a move involving Nomawethu Mabenge and Chuma Qawe. This was followed by a flurry of scores:
Alichia Arries recorded her first Test try following a line-break by Faith Tshauke.
Aphiwe Ngwevu utilized her trademark physicality to puncture the defense.
Chuma Qawe rounded off the half-time scoring after a clever inside line from Cilliers.
By the break, South Africa had established a comfortable 26-5 lead.
Second Half: The Debutant Show
The second stanza belonged to the replacements and the milestone-makers. As the bench was emptied, the tempo increased significantly. Nombuyekezo Mdliki showed brute strength to crash over early in the half, while Roseline Botes capitalized on a dominant rolling maul to score her ninth career try.
The latter stages of the match were defined by three players earning their first international points on debut:
Logan Welman (No. 8): Produced a spectacular 50-meter solo run to score under the posts.
Thandile Mazwi (Prop): Marked her first cap with a powerful close-range effort.
Thami Yeko: Chased down a Mary Zulu kick to join the scoring club.
Flyhalf Mary Zulu put the finishing touches on the performance with a step-and-score effort from a scrum set-piece. Jakkie Cilliers, who was instrumental throughout, finished with seven conversions and the Player of the Match award.
Match Summary & Scorers
Team | Half-Time | Full-Time | Tries |
Springbok Women | 26 | 64 | Cilliers, Arries, Ngwevu, Qawe, Mdliki, Botes, Welman, Mazwi, Yeko, Zulu |
Madagascar | 5 | 5 | Ravaoarinoro |
Conversions: Jakkie Cilliers (7)
Final Whistle
While the scoreline suggests total dominance, the Springbok Women will likely view this as a building block rather than a finished product. The technical staff will be pleased with the 10-try haul and the seamless integration of new talent, though early handling errors remain a point for refinement. The focus now shifts rapidly to May 27th, where they face Uganda Women in the second round. With momentum on their side and a squad brimming with confidence, the South Africans remain the team to beat in Nairobi.
All image credits: SA Women's Rugby
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