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How Bok Women silence doubters amid coaching concerns

EXCLUSIVE: It's been a challenging few weeks for the Springbok Women; however, they rallied and showed they truly belong on the world stage.

Published: Thursday, 1 October 2026 at 10:17 AM
How Bok Women silence doubters amid coaching concerns
Key Things to Know
  • Co-head coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt explained how the Springbok Women silenced critics following major coaching changes.
  • South Africa bounced back from a 19-50 defeat against Wales to defeat Italy 41-29 on Italian soil.
  • Swys de Bruin resigned as head coach, leading Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September to serve as co-head coaches.
The Story in 60 Seconds

The Springbok Women bounced back from a 19-50 loss to Wales by securing a historic 41-29 victory over eighth-ranked Italy on Italian soil during the WXV Global Series. Speaking exclusively to Rugby365, co-head coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt detailed how the squad refocused on basics and set-piece dominance despite major coaching disruptions, which included the recent resignations of head coach Swys de Bruin and assistant Bafana Nhleko.

Johannes-Haupt and co-head coach Franzel September have utilized support from SA Rugby figures, including Junior Springbok assistant Melusi Mthethwa, High Performance GM Dave Wessels, and Barry McDonald. As the South African side prepares to face Spain next, Johannes-Haupt emphasized their target of building long-term consistency, while confirming back Byrhandre Dolf has passed her Head Injury Assessment and is available for selection.

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