CAPE TOWN – Springbok Women captain Babalwa Latsha has urged her team to iron out their mistakes ahead of the second clash against the Black Ferns XV at Athlone Stadium on Saturday.
Latsha acknowledged that key errors in the first half enabled the Black Ferns XV to go into the break with a 20-12 lead during their opening international friendly last weekend.
She said that with the two teams set to lock horns again this week, the focus will be on correcting the mistakes made last weekend.
“Something we need to master is starting and finishing games strongly, that is something we need to master going forward,” said Latsha.
“There are times when you start strongly, but costly mistakes towards the end of the first half can undo that momentum, it’s part of the game.
“The most important thing moving forward and going to the second match is to minimise mistakes, retain possession, and focus on finishing strong.”
Following their 26-34 loss over the weekend, South Africa will be aiming to level the series against the New Zealand side.
Latsha understands the importance of winning the second match this weekend, especially with the World Cup approaching, and believes finishing on a high is crucial.
“As we approach this weekend’s match, it’s essential that we don’t repeat the errors from last week. We owe it to ourselves and our fans to perform better,” she said.
“As you saw, we didn’t utilise our wings and backline much last week, which left us exposed. That issue has now been addressed and will be a key focus in our preparations for this weekend.”
Latsha calls on fans to rally in numbers once again this weekend to give the team a much-needed boost.
“We hope fans will once again turn out in large numbers to cheer us on,” she added.
“Last weekend was incredible to witness, knowing the fans are with us gives us the boost we need as we head into our World Cup journey.
“We really appreciate their support, it means a lot ot us.”
Image: Ane Havenga.
