Exclusive: Springbok Women Take Inspiration from Rassie Erasmus as Swys de Bruin Eyes World Cup Success

With the Women’s Rugby World Cup just around the corner, the Springbok Women head into the global tournament with renewed belief, momentum, and perhaps most importantly identity. 

Fresh off a historic 41–24 victory over the Black Ferns XV, which sealed a 1-1 draw in their recent series, the Boks’ performance has made headlines as arguably the finest in the team’s history.

Coach Swys de Bruin couldn’t hide his pride as the squad prepares to depart next week for rugby’s biggest stage.

“Forget the men for a second, let me choose my words wisely here [laughs] but for the women’s team, this was one of the best performances I’ve seen in a long time… from any team, for that matter,” de Bruin told SportsBoom.co.za. 

Bok Women Taking a Page from Rassie’s Playbook

If parts of the Springbok Women’s strategy felt familiar to fans, that’s because they were. 

Under de Bruin, the team has borrowed elements from the highly successful men’s team, including the use of a “Bomb Squad” bench strategy and inventive set plays.

“The Springboks are trendsetters, and we follow a lot of what they do,” de Bruin explained. 

“We had a couple of special plays against the Black Ferns XV, and we scored off them. That’s the kind of innovation we want to keep building on.”

This blending of tactical awareness with the physicality of the women’s game has been key in elevating their performances, particularly against top-tier opposition.

Experimentation Paying Off

Over the last four games, de Bruin and his staff have rotated combinations and explored player versatility. One of the most talked-about moves has been the positional shifts of Springbok Women’s Sevens star Nadine Roos, who has featured at scrumhalf, flyhalf, and fullback.

“Nadine is incredibly versatile. I told her she’ll play about 70% of the time at 9, 20% at 15, and the rest at 10,” said de Bruin. 

“She understands her role now, and importantly, the team is settled and aligned.”

With the spine of the squad now “locked in,” according to the coach, the focus turns to final selection. The RWC squad announcement is set for August 9, a fitting moment on South Africa’s National Women’s Day.

Areas to Sharpen Before the World Cup

Despite the standout win over the Black Ferns XV, de Bruin remains grounded, identifying defensive width as a key area of improvement before the tournament.

“There are one or two things we still need to work on, particularly our defense out wide,” he said. 

“Coach Baf [Bafana Nhleko] has done some magnificent work, but there’s always room to improve.”

Officiating and Growth in the Women’s Game

De Bruin also praised the role of officiating in the team's development, particularly the contribution of Aimee Barrett-Theron, one of South Africa’s top referees who frequently works with the squad.

“Aimee is a fantastic referee and a great human being. She’s done amazing things for South African rugby, officiating both men’s and women’s Tests with the same high standards.”

“She communicates really well with us. When Coach Baf pointed out an issue at the breakdown, she acknowledged it straight away. She’s in control of the game and always willing to engage.”

With fellow referee Zoe Naude also stepping up in recent series, de Bruin believes the growth of officials is another sign of the women's game's evolution.

“The refereeing is getting better all the time. That’s good for the game, and even better for our preparation.”