The Springbok Women began the defence of their Rugby Africa Women's Cup title with a comprehensive 64-5 victory over Madagasacar at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi on Saturdau afternoon.
Image: @WomenBoks on X
Young loose forward Logan Welman announced herself on the world stage in emphatic fashion as the Springbok Women ran out comfortable 64–5 winners over Madagascar in their opening match of the Rugby Africa Women's Cup in Nairobi on Saturday afternoon.
The 21-year-old Western Province number eight looked remarkably assured on defence and in attack for the defending champions at the RFUEA Grounds — capping an exceptional performance with a stunning solo try in a second half completely dominated by the Bok Women.
South Africa had already taken firm control of the contest before the break, leading 26–5 after clinical tries from Jakkie Cilliers, Alichia Arries, Aphiwe Ngwevu, and Chuma Qawe. However, it was after half-time that the defending champions truly flexed their impressive squad depth.
Soon after the restart, prop Nombuyekezo Mdliki powered over from close range as the South African forwards began to heavily dominate the physical exchanges. The replacements then made an immediate impact on the park, with an entirely new front row introduced by the coaching staff — including a memorable first Test cap for physical prop Thandile Mazwi.
Replacement hooker Roseline Botes quickly added her trademark influence, finishing off a powerful driving maul before Madagascar’s defensive resistance around the set-piece began to crack completely. Repeated technical infringements at maul time eventually resulted in a yellow card for the Lady Makis, and South Africa capitalised ruthlessly on the numerical advantage.
Botes claimed her second try shortly afterwards — her ninth in Test rugby — as the Bok Women’s rolling maul became increasingly difficult for the tournament underdogs to contain.
Then came Welman’s signature moment. Collecting possession deep inside her own half, the debutant number eight burst into space and charged more than 50 metres before scoring directly under the posts — one of many explosive line breaks for the athletic loose forward. Cilliers added the routine conversion as South Africa moved into a commanding 43–5 lead.
The tries kept flowing freely from there. Mazwi marked her own international debut with a powerful close-range finish after sustained, multi-phase pressure from the Bok pack, while another first-time cap recipient, Thami Yeko, completed a dream afternoon when she gathered a clever kick from fly-half Mary Zulu to score late on.
Zulu then rounded off the performance in fitting fashion — stepping inside the cover defence from a structured scrum move to claim her maiden Test try before Cilliers slotted her seventh conversion of the afternoon.
While there were still minor moments of over-eagerness and a handful of missed opportunities in the modern Nairobi heat, the overall display thoroughly underlined South Africa’s growing domestic depth as they opened their continental campaign with a resounding statement victory.
Point-scorers:
Springbok Women 64 (26) – Tries: Jakkie Cilliers, Alichia Arries, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Chuma Qawe, Nombuyekezo Mdliki, Roseline Botes, Logan Welman, Thandile Mazwi, Thami Yeko, Mary Zulu. Conversions: Cilliers (7).
Madagascar 5 (5) – Try: Mialy Ravaoarinoro.