MADRID, 1 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish XV women’s rugby team lost this Sunday to South Africa (20-35) in their second match of the women’s 4 Nations, held at the Campo Central de Ciudad Universitaria in Madrid, a match in which the Africans asserted their physical superiority to claim the win.
Juan González’s men, with an average age of around 22, showed signs of their competitiveness against one of the best teams in the world, although they lost again as they did on the first day against the United States (14-20), fifth ranked in the World Rugby ranking.
At breakneck pace, South Africa scored their first try of the match after three minutes, with their subsequent kick converted by Libbie Janse van Rensburg. Spain was not intimidated and managed to turn it around with a test by Cristina Blanco, a transformation by Claudia Peña and a subsequent kick also by Peña to make it 10-7 at minute 15.
However, the speed of the South Africans proved lethal for the ‘Lionesses’, who trailed behind at halftime (10-22) before starting the second half brilliantly. A brilliant 40-meter run by Claudia Peña to land the ball in the opposition zone preceded Van Rensburg’s response with a similar run.
A robbery and essay by Carmen Castelucci put Spain in the game (20-27). Despite the great defense of the ‘Lionesses’, a maul in the 66th minute led to 20-32 with 13 minutes remaining, and a kick from the South Africans in the final moments put the final 20-35.