This was not the case. Not entirely, and not before a late French blitz swelled the score once South Africa seemingly lost their will to fight.<\/p>\n
![\"Video](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/spacer-new.png\")
Top 50 Women\u2019s Rugby Players \u2013 montage<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve picked the world\u2019s Top 50 women\u2019s rugby players for 2025! View the list now<\/p>\n
View Top 50 Now<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019ve picked the world\u2019s Top 50 women\u2019s rugby players for 2025! View the list now<\/p>\n In fact, in patches, when they had a chance to show their stuff in the first half, the women in green raised their game. Aseze Hele was once again a rampaging force from the base of the pack.<\/p>\n Nadine Roos was lively as a starting scrum-half and scored arguably the best try of the lot in the final moments. Byrhandre Dolf<\/a>, an instantly recognisable figure in the backfield with her scrum-cap and whirring, side-stepping feet, was a threat from broken play.<\/p>\n If they played like this against a lesser team they would have padded their stats with metres made, tackles broken and defenders beaten. The problem was they played an inspired France<\/a> who provided a lesson \u2013 if one was needed \u2013 that the Springboks, for all their rapid improvements, still have a long way to go before they can take their place at the top table.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to note that Swys de Bruin made 10 changes to the team that beat Italy<\/a> last week. He could afford to experiment as a place in the quarter finals was secure. And, let\u2019s be honest, even if every one of his first-choice players took the field, the result would likely have been the same. Perhaps the numbers of the board would have been different, but a date with New Zealand<\/a> in the last eight was always the inevitable outcome from the match.<\/p>\n So de Bruin had a free swing as he went in search of answers. One was emphatic: Libbie Janse van Rensburg is unequivocally the most important player in this team.<\/p>\n The hard-running fly-half is most likely a better fit at centre, but given the narrow attack of the South Africans, one that requires go-forward around the fringe, a first receiver who can win the gainline is a non-negotiable. Mary Zulu<\/a> had some neat touches against France, but she lacks the heft of Janse van Rensburg as well as the punch of her boot.<\/p>\n South Africa also require more cohesion on defence, especially when a team as skilful as France is able to stitch together a series of off-loads and popped passes off the shoulder. Every time they attacked they seemed destined to score. Not because the South Africans didn\u2019t have a solid set against first-phase strike play \u2013 although one score from Alexandra Chambon<\/a> from the back of a dominant scrum was noteworthy \u2013 but because they had little answer to the continuity in front of them.<\/p>\n South Africa played like a team with a Plan A and a Plan A only. Short carries. Short passes. Hard runs. Big hits. Link-up around the fringe. In the opening exchanges, despite conceding a try on nine minutes when Emilie Boulard<\/a> powered over in the corner, the Springboks held their own. A Dolf penalty on 15 minutes gave the score an accurate feel at 5-3.<\/p>\n But good teams adapt and the French started to shift the ball in contact. This forced the South Africans to scramble, which works on occasion, but the house almost always wins in this regard.<\/p>\nTop 50 Women\u2019s Rugby Players \u2013 montage<\/p>\n![\"Team](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1757282773_237_910.png.webp\")
Match Summary ![\"Team](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1757282773_365_1013.png.webp\")
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