That was close to a year ago, on a corresponding tour to the Northern Hemisphere, with the Bok Women finishing off that visit on a high, beating Spain 35-20 in Madrid.
In the picture, the entire pack of forwards – and some of the backs who joined the maul as it sped towards the Spanish tryline – can be seen celebrating, apart from for team captain Nolusindiso Booi, whose face showed the agony of an Achilles tendon injury.
The 38-year-old stalwart – who will extend her Test cap record to 41 when she leads the team out at Estadio Pepe Rojo in Valladolid on Saturday – did not stop until the job was done, despite her personal discomfort.
Koen’s message to the team was simple: even though she was in pain, Booi completed her job in the lineout, helping the South African charge towards and ultimately over the Spanish tryline. She was prepared to suffer for others to taste glory, and showed that the team always comes first.
That injury took Booi out of rugby for months and after extensive rehabilitation she was eased back during WXV 2, and fittingly played in the inaugural event as South Africa’s most capped Test player, having moved past Zenay Jordaan in a Test against Samoa in Hermanus a week earlier.
On Saturday, back in Spain and leading from the front when they face the host nation in a one-off Test, Booi is prepared to do it all over again.
“You go into battle every time you run onto the field,” said Booi.
“Injuries are part of the game and can happen at any time. For me – and I told the rest of the squad – this opportunity could be your last to represent your country and make it proud.
“Not only your country, but also your team, your family and those who support you. With that in mind, how can you hold back?”
Elation and agony in one photo.
Aside from being physical, Booi expects of her team to play a style of rugby that has become familiar to them.
“It is no secret, we are a physical team, and we love to dominate our opponent, especially up front,” she said.
“We scrum and maul for penalties and we keep doing that until we are over the line. Our mindset will not change, but the coaching staff have been working hard to implement subtle changes. Those will be tested by Spain.”
Saturday’s Test against Spain and next week’s fixture against the USA in London will be used to prepare the Bok Women to not only defend their Rugby Africa Women’s Cup title in May, when they will also look to qualify for the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England.
And although the Bok Women have beaten Spain in their last three encounters, Booi reckons the host nation will run out as favourites.
“Spain is playing at home and are ranked above us – they have had some matches already this season while we last played in WXV in October and that makes them the favourites,” said Booi.
“We will be asked to dig deep tomorrow and give everything we have. And if that is not enough, we will have to find the extra energy, but we cannot leave the field knowing we did not give everything.”
Remarkably, Booi made her debut in 2010, and she still remembers that day against Kazakhstan, so she will have words of comfort to the four new caps in Saturday’s match-23, Xoliswa Khuzwayo, Anathi Qolo, Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen and Samantha Els.
“They need to focus on the job and not the emotions of the moment. They all worked hard over the last few months and are well prepared for this, they are ready to play,” Booi said.
The match kicks off at 17h00 on Saturday and will be live streamed on SA Rugby’s YouTube channel.
Head-to-Head:
17 August 2014 (Paris): Spain 36, South Africa 0
17 November 2018 (Villajoyosa): Spain 17, South Africa 5
21 September 2019 (Despatch): South Africa 12, Spain 29
13 August 2022 (Johannesburg): South Africa 44, Spain 5
19 August 2022 (Potchefstroom): South Africa 37, Spain 14
1 April 2023 (Madrid): Spain 20, South Africa 35
Match details – Spain v South Africa
Date: Saturday, 23 March 2024
Venue: Estadio Pepe Rojo, Valladolid
Kick-off: 17h00 (SA time)
Referee: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)
Livestream: SA Rugby YouTube channel
