Booi: This is what we’ve worked for

There is no way that the Springbok Women will simply roll over in their Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand in Exeter after fighting the odds, training for hours and hours and spending months away from family and friends.

That was the message from team captain Nolusindiso Booi as the South Africans completed their preparations for their first RWC play-off game, against the defending champions, the Black Ferns, at Sandy Park on Saturday.

Booi said the match will not only mark a special day in the history of South African rugby, it will mark a special performance from her team as well.

“There is something special about this group – we come from different backgrounds and all of us have different stories on how rugby shaped our lives,” she said on Friday.

“But one thing is pulling us together and making us work together with a smile and a common purpose and that is what the Springbok Women’s jersey stands for. We will run onto that field tomorrow as one and no one is leaving anything out there.”

Booi has already indicated that this will be her last year of playing Test rugby and as such, she is treating every game as if it the last one she will play in the green and gold.

“So for me, it is easy to get motivated and leave it all out there as I know it could be the last one ever and I don’t want to regret that I did not empty the tank,” she said.

“For the rest of the team, the motivation might be different but the effort will stay the same for all of us. This is the moment we worked for, and we owe it our ourselves, our supporters, our sponsors and everyone who invested time, effort and money into this team, to go out there guns blazing. If we come up short but we gave it all, even then it will be worth it.”

Booi said the Black Ferns’ reputation and record are well established and deserved and they are going to Sandy Park as the underdogs.

The only time the two teams ever played was in 2010 when the World Cup was held in England as well, with the Black Ferns winning 55-5 in Guildford. Booi played in that match, coming off the bench in what was the start of a record-breaking career.

“Yes, it could be my last match against them as well but hopefully not,” she said. “We did not come this far just to participate tomorrow. We did not work this hard to just come and play. Winning is the only thing in our minds right now.

“We have seen that if we put our minds and bodies together as a team, beautiful things can happen.”

South Africa, the lowest ranked quarter-finalists in 10th, will jump two places to a new high of eighth if they end New Zealand’s title defence – or seventh if Australia are beaten by Canada.

Match officials

Sara Cox (England) will equal the record for most Women's Rugby World Cup matches as referee with the New Zealand v South Africa quarter-final in her hometown of Exeter, her 11th match in the middle. New Zealand have won nine of their 10 matches with Cox in the middle, while South Africa lost their only previous test.

Hollie Davidson (Scotland) takes charge of Canada v Australia for the first time when they meet in Bristol. Both sides lost their first tests with Davidson in the middle before winning their next, in Canada's case against Wales on the second weekend of RWC 2025.

Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa) will become the third to referee 11 matches on the Women's Rugby World Cup stage when she takes charge of France v Ireland in Exeter. It is the second time she referees this fixture with France 40-5 winners in the 2022 Women's Six Nations.

Aurélie Groizeleau (France) takes charge of her first RWC quarter-final with England v Scotland with the Red Roses having won all 16 of their tests with the French official in the middle. Scotland have lost five of their eight matches by comparison, including defeat by Italy in a RWC 2025 warm-up match in July.

Match facts and figures below.

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New Zealand v South Africa at Sandy Park, Exeter - 2pm

Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)

Assistant Referees: Ella Goldsmith (RA), Kat Roche (USA)

Television Match Official: Rachel Horton (RA)

Split Screen/FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Springbok Women starting XV: 15 Byrhandré Dolf, 14 Maceala Samboya, 13 Zintle Mpupha, 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 11 Ayanda Malinga; 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Nadine Roos; 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Sinazo Mcatshulwa, 6 Sizophila Solontsi; 5 Danelle Lochner, 4 Nolusindiso Booi (capt); 3 Babalwa Latsha, 2 Lindelwa Gwala, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie. Replacements: 16 Luchell Hanekom, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19 Vainah Ubisi, 20 Anathi Qolo, 21 Lerato Makua, 22 Catha Jacobs, 23 Eloise Webb.

Black Ferns starting XV: 15 Renee Holmes, 14 Braxton Sorensen-McGee, 13 Stacey Waaka, 12 Theresa Setefano, 11 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe; 10 Ruahei Demany (capt), 9 Maia Joseph; 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 7 Jorja Miller, 6 Liana Mikaele-Tu'u; 5 Alana Bremner, 4 Maiakawanakaulani Roos; 3 Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, 2 Georgia Ponsonby, 1 Chryss Viliko. Replacements: 16 Atlanta Lolohea, 17 Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, 18 Kate Henwood, 19 Laura Bayfield, 20 Kennedy Tukuafu, 21 Iritana Hohaia, 22 Amy du Plessis, 23 Ayesha Leti-L'iga.