Franzel September highlights key role for Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Bok World Cup plan

For Springbok Women's assistant coach Franzel September, the forthcoming Rugby Africa Women's Cup is vital preparation for the World Cup, not just an unwelcome distraction on the road to the showpiece in England in August and September.

It is also an opportunity for those on the fringes of selection to make a late push for inclusion in the World Cup squad.

The Springboks jet off to Madagascar tomorrow to take part in the tournament at Stade Makis in Antananarivo that also features the hosts, Uganda and Kenya.  The South African women open the tournament with a match against Uganda in Saturday.

"This is all part of our prep for the World Cup, this is our next stop," September said. "In the last few years that we've travelled to Madgascar it wasn't easy – an away game is never easy – but we try to stick to what works for us. 

"It will always be a challenge playing in Africa. The conditions are different. I can remember that you need to travel about 20 or 30 minutes to get to the playing field so it's always a challenge. But we're up for the challenge because we know that we need to get past that. So it's important for us to stay glued to our systems."

September lists the recent European tour and the coming matches against Canada and the Black Ferns as other World Cup building blocks. 

"If you look at our squad we've got eight players that have played in the previous World Cup, so we're excited to see what they can do. Every opportunity we can get for playing minutes is important, especially for the women's game."

For Bok Women's speedster Lerato Makua, the tournament marks an opportunity to get an injury-interrupted international career back on track. She is among the eight players in the Africa Cup squad who participated in the 2022 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

She has also played in the Africa Cup before.

“Having played against Fiji and England in New Zealand in the last World Cup, I set my mind to be in the best shape possible for the next one, not knowing that I would be out of rugby for a year-and-a-half,” Makua said as the Springbok Women put the finishing touches to their preparations with a training session at Redhill School in Sandton on Tuesday. 

“I am just so happy to be back. I love playing for my country and this is such a great opportunity for me to show that I am fit and ready for another Rugby World Cup.

“It is not about impressing the coaches, although that will be part of everyone's thinking, but playing international rugby again. I was kicking my heels long enough, now it is time to play,” added Makua, who made a successful return to the game in the Women's Premier Division for the Bulls Daisies this year.

She is keen to run out at Stade Makis again: “The crowds are amazing and the support for their home team is just off the charts. For us as players, not used to play in front of 15 000 fans, it is a real experience, and I cannot wait to feel that energy again. It is actually the ideal place to make a return to test rugby for me.

“But it is not about me, it is about us as a team and what we are travelling to Madagascar for and that is to win. We are defending champions, and we want to bring the trophy home again. We are not arrogant by saying that, just very determined."

Meanwhile, Bulls Daisies loose forward Ziyanda Ngohlekana was called into the squad to replace the injured Bronishia Hess, who picked up an ankle injury.