Jakkie Cilliers credits Bulls Daisies’ pro setup for raising her game
By
Lonwabo Miso
16th July 2025
Goal-kicking sensation Jakkie Cilliers says the professional environment at the Bulls Daisies has played a major role in sharpening her performance.
The team announced ISUZU as their new title sponsor at Loftus Versfeld.
Cilliers reflected on how training within a high-performance system has accelerated her growth from the domestic game to the international stage.
"I mean there's a lot of players that's part of the Springbok Women and that also makes things easy for me. Being able to train with them everyday, get that relationship that we want to create in a working environment, it's nice to have,” Cilliers said.
“I think also to go from the Bulls Daisies to Springbok Women is helping me in a way of that professionalism that we talk about and yeah, that's what we want at the end of the day."
Cilliers recently featured in both Tests against Canada, where the Springbok Women showed clear signs of progress.
After conceding eight tries in the 50–20 defeat at Loftus, the team produced a more disciplined display in Gqeberha, going down 33–5.
Cilliers believes there were major positives to take from the series, especially in terms of defensive structure and cohesion.
"We trained very hard in that one week between the first and the second one. There's so many things that we needed to work on but when we went to improvise the game plan for the first game at training, we could see a big difference already. So, we definitely felt it."
Cilliers also praised Springbok Women’s Performance Coach Swys de Bruin, whose appointment last year has brought renewed tactical clarity and mental sharpness to the national setup.
She says his influence has made a noticeable difference.
"It's something marvelous, something spectacular, it's special. I mean, working with him, he brings a lot to the game, the passion to the game back and that's what we as players want.
“We don't want a coach that drains your energy or something like that, he brings it back. He sees what you are capable of as a team and as an individual and that's what we want. So, it's absolutely amazing working with him."
