Rugby's Newest Rivalry

The Black Ferns have joined the All Blacks on their Greatest rivalry tour, to play their first ever match against the Springbok Women on South African soil. This game is the development of rugby's newest rivalry.

It's that emerged in the quarterfinal of last year's Rugby World Cup. Here the Springboks held the Black Ferns to a 10 all half time scoreline. Deploying fifteen player lineouts and mauls OFF scrums! Playing the style of rugby that has made their men's team so interesting to watch in recent years. Pushing the boundaries of the laws of rugby.

It's all credit to these women and their phenomenal climb of the last 18 months. When the Black Ferns XV traveled to South Africa back in July last year, they were headed to play the team ranked 12th in the World. The Springbok women were fresh off a two match series against Canada. Who did them the respect of fielding a strong team and saw the South Africans meet the challenge.

Their performances against Canada and the New Zealand development team enough to put them on the radar for the World Cup, despite this being only their 5th appearance. The Springboks had never climbed higher than 10th at this tournament but you could feel something brewing.

The World Cup kicked off and they promptly dispatched Brazil. A week later, they edged the 2022 breakouts, Italy and now were looking at a chance to play knock out rugby for the very first time. The quarter final in Exeter, was simply electric. The Black Ferns having to dig their way out of trouble against a physical and innovative South African side.

They finished the tournament in 6th place, climbing up the World Rankings to 10. South African women's rugby finally being avoided just a sliver of the opportunities have have made their brothers the dominant force of recent years. South African women's rugby, doing what they always knew they could.

At the post match press conference, I asked those from the Black Ferns and the South African camps if they wanted to meet again. The answer was an emphatic yes from both sides. Once the men's tour was confirmed this year, the women's fixture became a happy by-product of this hype. Just over a year after they had sent their development team, New Zealand Rugby would send their top team instead.

All of this this should have been another triumphant moment on the march for progress for South African women's rugby. So imagine the disappointment when along with the squad list for Saturday came the announcement of the Springbok's head coach's resignation. Effectively immediately, Swys de Bruin was out.

I have no idea what has happened here. Rumours are swirling about payment and bonuses but whatever details finally emerge one thing we know for sure right now. South African Rugby administrators have allowed this dispute to overshadow what should have been the women's moment to shine.

I am absolutely gutted for the team that we are spending time talking about this instead of them. They have waited long enough for this moment. They are good enough to give the Black Ferns a proper run. Fuck the amateurism that is still holding them back from the joy and reward of their hard work.

That's why I'm locking in to the action. I'm excited to see another chapter written in women's rugby's newest rivalry. Tune in with me tomorrow night at 11.30pm.

Back home, a lot more of the Farah Palmer Cup will be gracing your screens this weekend with all Premiership matches live and free to air on TVNZ+. It appears all the unions have been required to provide streams in lieu of a proper broadcast so I will once again collate the links for the other matches.

The only one I can find at the time of writing this is Wellington Pride vs the North Harbour Hibiscus. I'll post the rest of them as I find them over on Instagram. It's here too that you'll find episode 1 of the Commentary Collective. After putting the word out on socials, two of my friends with two very different backgrounds in rugby came together to give me their breakdown of the Canterbury Auckland match. If you're heading along to a game this weekend, share your takes with me and I'll see if I can assemble another one!

With you,
Alice