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Latsha’s Troops Ready for French Fire at Franklin’s Gardens

Adnaan MohamedNews, Preview, RugbyLeave a Comment on Latsha’s Troops Ready for French Fire at Franklin’s Gardens

By Adnaan Mohamed

The Springbok Women march into Northampton on Sunday with their scrum set like a fortress wall and their backline primed like a slingshot, ready to test themselves against France in a Pool D decider that feels more like a quarterfinal dress rehearsal.

At the heart of it all stands Babalwa Latsha, the iron anchor of the Bok front row, now entrusted with the captain’s armband. Like a general forged in the trenches, she will lead South Africa into battle for the first time at a Rugby World Cup, her experience as the most capped prop in national history providing both shield and sword.

There’s fresh blood in the ranks. Mary Zulu, the flyhalf debutant, has the playmaking instincts of a chess master who suddenly finds herself on the biggest board of all. Alongside her, towering lock Anathi Qolo earns her maiden start, a new pillar of green and gold muscle tasked with turning French lineouts into shaky scaffolds.

Coach Swys de Bruin has rolled the dice with bold squad rotation. With quarterfinal qualification already secured, he’s handed debuts to several bench warriors such as Luchell Hanekom, Xoliswa Khuzwayo, Nomsa Mokwai, and Faith Tshauke. They will all be eager to stamp their names into the Bok folklore. It’s not a gamble, though, but more like resting heavy artillery while unleashing new cavalry to test their mettle.

France, ever the flamboyant juggernaut, are as unpredictable as a gust of Parisian wind. Their flair can cut through defences like a rapier, but De Bruin has his eyes on the scrum, that darkened colosseum of eight-on-eight where South Africa believe they can draw French blood.

Add to that a clever kicking strategy designed to turn Les Bleues’ structure inside out, and the Bok Women may just find cracks in their armour.

“Every player in our 32 has now had skin in this World Cup,” De Bruin reminded.

“That unity is our sharpest weapon.”

For veterans like Tayla Kinsey, sharpening her arrows for a 41st Test cap, this clash is about composure and craft. For the new faces, it’s about showing that the jersey sits on their shoulders as naturally as it does on legends.

The French will bring firepower; the Bok Women will bring grit. At Franklin’s Gardens, expect collisions as heavy as iron gates slamming shut, with Latsha’s warriors looking to prove that South African steel doesn’t bend easily, even against one of the most polished teams in world rugby.

What’s at Stake in Pool D

The Springbok Women have already punched their ticket to the quarterfinals, a historic achievement in itself. But this clash with France will decide the finishing order in Pool D, and with it, the calibre of their next opponent.

  • A victory over France would be a statement win, catapulting the Boks into the knockouts with momentum and belief, possibly avoiding a clash with the tournament’s heavyweights in the very next round.
  • A loss would still see them progress, but likely on the tougher side of the draw, where giants like England or New Zealand lurk.

For South Africa, the stakes are as much about sending a message as they are about scoreboard math: that they belong not just in the knockouts, but in the conversation among the world’s elite.

Springbok Women Team to Face France

Starting XV
15. Byrhandré Dolf – 24 caps, 57 points
14. Jakkie Cilliers – 21 caps, 106 points
13. Eloise Webb – 18 caps, 30 points
12. Chumisa Qawe – 23 caps, 20 points
11. Maceala Samboya – 5 caps, 20 points
10. Mary Zulu – 15 caps, 40 points
9. Nadine Roos – 20 caps, 45 points
8. Aseza Hele – 30 caps, 85 points
7. Catha Jacobs – 24 caps, 5 points
6. Lerato Makua – 17 caps, 20 points
5. Anathi Qolo – 9 caps, 5 points
4. Vainah Ubisi – 20 caps, 15 points
3. Babalwa Latsha (captain) – 38 caps, 30 points
2. Micke Gunter – 15 caps, 5 points2. Micke Gunter – 15 caps, 5 points

1.Yonela Ngxingolo – 37 caps, 15 points

Replacements
16. Luchell Hanekom – 9 caps
17. Xoliswa Khuzwayo – 8 caps
18. Nombuyekezo Mdliki – 7 caps
19. Nomsa Mokwai – 13 caps
20. Faith Tshauke – 3 caps, 15 points
21. Sinazo Mcatshulwa – 40 caps, 60 points
22. Tayla Kinsey – 40 caps, 53 points
23. Aphiwe Ngwevu – 29 caps, 65 points

Springboks charge Eden Park hoodoo head-on

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By Adnaan Mohamed

History stands on the tryline. The Springboks return to Eden Park on Saturday, the All Blacks’ impenetrable fortress since 1994, chasing a first victory in Auckland since 1937.

“Facing New Zealand away from home is always a challenge, and playing at Eden Park will make both teams equally desperate,” said coach Rassie Erasmus.

“There’s no doubt the players will throw everything out there on Saturday. There is a massive rivalry between the sides, and the history between us is tremendous.”

The Boks’ two lone wins at Eden Park came in 1921 and 1937. Since then, seven defeats and one draw have left the ground a graveyard of green-and-gold dreams.

Now Erasmus’ men, back-to-back World Champions and reigning Rugby Championship holders, want to flip the script.

“Playing against New Zealand in their backyard… is special, and we don’t need more motivation than that. It’s going to be a nervy week for both teams,” he admitted.

Erasmus brushed off talk of Eden Park being an impossible fortress:

“People are making a big deal of the Eden Park record and, of course, it adds pressure. But if one looks back a few weeks ago, we lost against Australia at Ellis Park, and it’s now history.

For us, it’s a huge honour to get the chance to play at Eden Park, and it’s a great opportunity for us.”

And when asked if this was the biggest Test since the World Cup Final? His answer was blunt:

“It would be a slap in the face to Australia and Argentina for us to say this is the biggest game since then.”

With both sides ranked one and two in the world, Saturday’s Test match will be a collision of legacies and settle the argument for now as to who can claim the bragging rights of being the best rugby team on the planet.

Springbok Women’s Historic World Cup Win

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By Adnaan Mohamed

The Springbok Women tore through the history books in York on Sunday, barging past Italy 29–24 to clinch their first-ever Rugby World Cup play-off spot. It was a tackle-busting, line-breaking moment that also catapulted South Africa into the world’s top ten for the first time.

Head coach Swys de Bruin hailed the victory as a true pack effort:

“We stuck to our game plan, scrummed down as one, and outplayed them in the backs. Italy showed their Six Nations pedigree, but our team simply wanted it more.”

De Bruin said his team’s refusal to back down when Italy came with a determined fight back to twice draw level in the game, as well as the tactical acumen of his coaching staff were highlights in this exceptional win.

“I am so proud of everyone, this was really a team effort, not only from all here in England, but also our support structures back home, and this performance justifies the belief SA Rugby had in us,” said De Bruin.

“We had a plan on how to beat Italy and credit to my coaches, as it worked to a tee. Our first phase helped us to score some tries, while we also outplayed them in the backs with some delightful tries.

“We improved on every positive statistic out there and we are only two rounds into this tournament. It is such a relief and one can only thank God that it worked as planned.”

Italy twice levelled the scores after trailing 17–5, yet the Bok Women refused to fold. Their grit in defence and flair on attack delivered tries that split the Azzurri line like a well-timed crash ball.

Captain Nolusindiso Booi, playing her fourth and final World Cup, likened the triumph to lifting silverware after years of hard graft:

“This win is for those who laid the foundations before us. From where we started to breaking into the top ten. It’s magic. This is just so rewarding for everyone, especially the coaches who prepared us for this moment. I couldn’t have asked for a more rewarding send-off.”

The Boks now return to their Northampton base, preparing for a heavyweight pool clash with unbeaten France. This game will be yet another massive test in their quest to keep this fairytale rolling.

adidas Back into the Stormers Scrum

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By Adnaan Mohamed

After eight years on the sidelines adidas has dusted off its boots and jogged back into the DHL Stormers’ starting XV as official technical sponsor.

The three stripes are back in Cape Town, and they’ve come to make a statement not just as a rugby kit, but as part of the culture.

“It’s a great honour for us to be reunited with the DHL Stormers again,” says Tom Brown, Senior Brand Director at adidas South Africa.

“The team and the dynamic way they play rugby embodies the flair and passion of their supporters. This partnership is about more than sport; it’s about honouring tradition whilst also celebrating a new era of bold ambition.”

Home Kit: Reunite the Stripes

The home jersey is rugby’s equivalent of a well-timed hand-off: classic, powerful, impossible to ignore. Those blue and white hoops are stitched like the DNA of Newlands itself.

It’s bold, uncompromising, and unapologetically Stormers. It’s heritage with a modern polish, a jersey that looks just as good under the Saturday sun as it does when drenched in the sweat of a one-point thriller.

It honours history with every stripe a reminder of where the club’s been, and every hoop a promise of where it’s going.

Away Kit: Remix the Stripes

The away jersey concept “Remix the Stripes” takes on a vibrant twist. Inspired by the spirited streets of Bo-Kaap, a neighbourhood known for its deep rugby heritage, cultural diversity and vibrantly decorated homes, the jersey bursts with electric hues of lucid pink, lime burst, and lucid cyan. A remix of tradition that celebrates freedom, energy, and individuality.

It’s rugby kit reimagined for a generation that refuses to blend in. Call it the sidestep to convention with a vibrant celebration of freedom, individuality, and the multicultural heartbeat of Cape Town. If the home kit is the anthem, the away jersey is the remix.

DHL Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson said that having adidas back on board is a big moment for the team and their supporters.

“We are all thrilled to have adidas back and we know that our fans will embrace this move and the incredible kit that we will be playing in this season.

“The two designs speak to the rich rugby heritage of this region. The iconic blue and white hoops are synonymous with the rich history of rugby in the Cape, while the away jersey pays homage to the Bo-Kaap which has produced so many passionate rugby people over the years, including those who were involved in some of the first organised matches on the Green Point Common, just a stone’s throw away from our stadium.

“Our players and supporters will wear this kit with pride this season and we can’t wait to get going,” he said.

Kit Built for Collisions

Of course, flair is nothing without function. These aren’t jerseys made to hang politely in sports shops but they’re engineered for bruising battles in the trenches.

Crafted from 100% recycled polyester doubleknit, they wick away sweat quicker than a winger spotting space in the backfield. Lightweight yet stubbornly durable, with reinforced stitching in high-stress zones, they’re designed to hold up against the dark arts of the scrum.

The athletic fit is snug but never strangling. Think of it as a jersey that knows how to tackle but can still dance.

The Comeback We’ve Been Waiting For

At R999, Stormers fans can finally pull on the stripes and hoops once more. The home jersey drops on 19 September, while the Bo-Kaap-inspired away kit lands on 3 October.

The home jersey is available from 19 September, and the away jersey is available from 3 October at stormersshop.co.za, select adidas retail stores, adidas.co.za, select sports retailers and at DHL Stadium on matchdays.

Eight years apart, and now reunited. The DHL Stormers and adidas are back together and ready to charge head-down into a new era.

Stripes and hoops, stitched for glory, built to withstand hits harder than a Frans Malherbe scrum.

Cape Town, your jersey has come home.