It’s little surprise that Zintle Mpupha has a superb try-scoring strike-rate in Test rugby: she is a former provincial cricketer, and has a degree in human movement science.
Hailing from Xesi, near Alice, in the Eastern Cape, Mpupha has an incredible record of 20 tries in 23 Tests for the Springbok Women team.
The outside centre added to her tally in last week’s dramatic 33-26 defeat to Australia in the WXV 2 tournament at the Athlone Stadium, and will hope to make it 21 tries in today’s final encounter against Italy at the same venue (2pm start).
The 30-year-old played provincial cricket for Border, but her growth in women’s rugby saw her first emerge as a sevens star before making an impact in the 15-player arena.
Mpupha captained South Africa at the Paris Olympics sevens tournament this year, and now she is helping the Bok Women prepare for next year’s World Cup in England.
Part of that development is facing higher-ranked teams in the WXV 2 event, and after SA beat Japan 31-24, they nearly pulled off a major upset against the Wallaroos last week.
The home side rallied in the final quarter with tries by Mpupha and Micke Günter in the final quarter, but after camping on the Aussie tryline in the closing stages, they were denied by a brilliant turnover by opposing flank Ashley Marsters.
But before that, it was the slick handling of the Australians that caught the Bok Women off-guard, with a number of gaps opening out wide in the South African defence.
Mpupha is confident, though, that they will remedy the defensive lapses against the Italians today – having also received some help during Thursday’s practice from Springbok captain Siya Kolisi.
Final Training Session of the Season 🤩✨
Make sure to tune in and watch the #BokWomen in action on Saturday in their last game of the #WXV ⏰#MakeItCount#ETTIG pic.twitter.com/CZ8JuES1fe
“This weekend is going to be totally different. The Aussies tried to play around us, and Italy try to play close to one another,” she said.
“Coach Bafana (Nhleko) really worked hard on us to stay alive on both sides, so I think this weekend, we are going to work together, connected as a team, and whatever they bring, we will sort it out.”
Mpupha has a powerful midfield partner in Chumisa Qawe, who often bursts through tackles and is able to create space for her fellow backs.
The South Africans, though, will be missing wing Jakkie Cilliers due to injury, but will hope to feed the speedy back-three of Eloise Webb, Nomawethu Mabenge and Ayanda Malinga out wide.
“Playing Italy, there needs to be a lot of communication and connecting with my 12 (Qawe) and the rest of the defensive line, which we covered in training,” Mpupha said.
“It’s going to challenge us, but we already have worked on how we are going to stop their layers of attack, and how we are going to kill the space before their attackers come around (the corner).
“No matter the combination, as long as you know the job that you need to bring into the team, it means a lot. Playing with Chumisa... She grew up with me and we played cricket together, so we understand each other very well.
“It’s another opportunity for us to express ourselves and our combination, and I really think we understand each other and listen to each other very, which is why we think our combination works so well.”
Captain Nolusindiso Booi, who will be earning a SA record 49th Test cap today, urged Cape Town fans to turn out in their droves at Athlone Stadium and watch the hosts trying to dominate upfront in the scrums and lineouts once more.
“Guys, please come out and support us. Hearing you from the outside means a lot, and it also gives us the energy to go forward. So, please come and support us,” the No 4 lock said.
“We want to challenge them there (physically), but we want to stay calm and do our processes, step by step. We want to dominate in the scrums and lineouts, but making sure that we don’t lose our processes on that.
“Maybe get more penalties, and score a few tries from that. “Our set-pieces are working in a very good way. We can scrum and maul for penalties and tries.
“We have put in the work, and we are in a good space and are doing so much better compared to the past.
“This is our last game of the tournament, and we have to give everything that we have. Our preparation was good, and we did what was expected of us – from an attacking and defensive side, as we worked on both, and we must just give it all.”
Final Session ✅ Ready to Execute! Italy here we come 😤#WXV#ETTIG#MakeItCount pic.twitter.com/KRQd6qpmzx
— SA Women's Rugby (@WomenBoks) October 10, 2024
Springbok Women Team
15 Eloise Webb 14 Nomawethu Mabenge 13 Zintle Mpupha 12 Chumisa Qawe 11 Ayanda Malinga 10 Nadine Roos 9 Tayla Kinsey 8 Sizophila Solontsi 7 Catha Jacobs 6 Lusando Dumke 5 Vainah Ubisi 4 Nolusindiso Booi (captain) 3 Babalwa Latsha 2 Lindelwa Gwala 1 Yonela Ngxingolo.
Bench: 16 Micke Günter 17 Sanelisiwe Charlie 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki 19 Danelle Lochner 20 Sinazo Mcatshulwa 21 Aseza Hele 22 Unam Tose 23 Byrhandré Dolf.