Early red card sets up big defeat for Bok Women against Canada

The match was effectively over as a contest as early as the sixth minute when flanker Catha Jacobs was red-carded for a dangerous tackle, reducing the Bok Women to 14 players for the remainder of the match against the fourth-ranked team in the world.

Injuries to lock Donelle Lochner after half an hour and No 8 Aseza Hele at the break also did little to aid their cause.

Playing against a team known for their forward prowess while bereft of a number of key forwards was always going to be a tough ask and in the end, the impressive and experienced Canadians outscored the Springbok Women by 10 tries to one.

The score was 35-0 at the break but the South Africans had a few opportunities that went begging. The women in red added five more tries after the break as more spaces opened up around the field, though Nomawethu Mabenge, who impressed with her usual strong running, did score a beautiful five-pointer for SA.

The try came after Shaunique Hess made a good tackle, the Bok Women won a turnover and Mabenge found space after running over two Canadians. Libbie Janse van Rensburg kicked a pinpoint conversion.

Canada 66 (35) - Tries: Sabrina Poulin, Sarah-Maude Lachance (2), Paige Farries, Fancy Bermudez (2), Julia Schell, Sara Svoboda, Fancy Bermudez, Renee Gonzalez. Conversions: Sophie de Goede (6), Emma Taylor (2).

Springbok Women 7 (0) - Try: Nomawethu Mabenge. Conversion: Libbie Janse van Rensburg.