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Springbok Women assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt says the team is determined to assert dominance at the set piece when they face the Black Ferns XV in Cape Town on Saturday.
The Test at Athlone Stadium marks the first of two international friendlies against the New Zealand visitors and forms a key part of South Africa’s preparations for the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England.
While the Boks will look to make their physicality count in the scrums and lineouts, Johannes-Haupt says they are also working on broadening their attacking game.
"We are seen as a set-piece dominant team; however we want to add more variety and spice to our set piece and attacking game," explained Johannes-Haupt.
Johannes-Haupt says the coaching staff has placed strong emphasis on the breakdown ahead of this Test series.
With a month to go until the Women’s World Cup, these matches offer crucial opportunities to test structures and sharpen technical detail.
She says improving efficiency at the rucks will be key in turning defence into attack against top-tier sides like New Zealand.
"We really want to focus on our attacking breakdown against the ferns this weekend. This is to make sure that we have our hard runners running the ball up the field, securing the ball, and making sure that the ball is free and accessible to play because we want to play a slightly different way," hinted the assistant coach.
Having faced the Black Ferns herself as a player at the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup, and later working as their liaison officer during the HSBC SVNS in Cape Town, Johannes-Haupt has a unique insight into the mindset of the New Zealanders.
She says South Africa’s goal will be to take the game to the visitors from the first whistle and apply scoreboard pressure.
