The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand is finally upon us after being postponed for a year due to the global pandemic.
Captain Nolusindiso Booi’s Springboks will represent the hopes and dreams of millions when they begin their journey along with 11 other sides starting this weekend.
The Bok women, ranked 11th on World Rugby’s standings, open their campaign with a tough encounter against world number four France at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday at 3.15am.
After that, there will be further pool clashes against Fiji (Sunday October 16) and England (Sunday October 23), both at 6.45am.
The 12 teams have been divided into three pools, with SA contesting Pool C.
Hosts and defending champions New Zealand are in Pool A and will be favourites along with world number one side England.
Women’s rugby is beginning to make strides in SA and it showed in the Springboks’ performances in recent months while they prepared their squad for the global showpiece.
But to expect the women to emulate the men’s side and win the tournament would be expecting way too much.
Of the sides which are in New Zealand, only Japan and Fiji are ranked lower than the Boks.
SA have been to three previous World Cups since their first one in Canada in 2006, when they achieved two 10th-place finishes and a 12th spot.
In this year’s version, the top two sides in each pool will qualify for the quarterfinals, along with the two best third-placed teams.
Booi, who had a humble upbringing in the rural Eastern Cape village of Trust No3, is at her third World Cup.
The strong number eight knows just how tough it will be, but there was a silent determination about her this week.
She said one needed to understand the significance of this tournament and how it could elevate the women’s game on a global scale, but even more so, how it could promote the game in SA.
A third of the squad is made up of current EP and Border players, and several others, who now play in other provinces, have also made the trip.
Here’s to hoping they play a major role in the campaign and that the squad reach the quarters and perhaps even beyond.
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