Despite the intense heat and challenging conditions, the Bok Women remained composed for the full 80 minutes to secure a clean sheet and give the coaching staff plenty of positives to take from the tour.
Franzel September, who shares the head coaching responsibilities with Laurian Johannes-Haupt, praised the team for staying focused and delivering when it mattered most.
“We are very proud of the ladies, who stuck to their guns today in very hot conditions,” said September.
Playing at midday under the Seville sun proved demanding, with two water breaks needed during the match. However, the Springbok Women maintained their intensity and kept Spain from finding a way through.
“We did leave some tries out there, but to finish the tour with such a commanding win was great for us,” September said.
The victory was made even more impressive by the challenges the team faced with injuries. Babalwa Latsha left the field with an ankle injury, while Nombuyekezo Mdliki was later stretchered off.
Despite the disruption, the Springbok Women continued to dominate at set piece and showed the depth and determination within the squad.
“We made some mistakes, but we did play the full 80 minutes and that was great. We were playing for everyone back home as well, which added to our feelings of content after the match,” said September.
One of the biggest positives for the coaching staff was the defensive effort. Spain were kept scoreless throughout the contest as the Bok Women disrupted their attacking rhythm from the outset.
“We wanted to disrupt their attack to make sure they can’t get going and the fact that they could not score tells you how successful that was,” September explained.
Discipline was another standout feature, with the Springbok Women finishing the match without conceding a card or being penalised for a high tackle.
With the next Women’s Rugby World Cup on the horizon, September believes the performance provided an important benchmark for the team.
“One of our aims is to be the best disciplined side at the next World Cup and we set a good standard towards that today.”
The Springbok Women will return to South Africa on Tuesday, with their attention now turning to their upcoming two-Test series against Ireland in Cape Town later this month.
After a challenging tour, the Bok Women return home with a clean sheet, valuable lessons and plenty of momentum.