An Aseza Hele hat-trick fired South Africa to a comfortable 66-6 victory over Brazil, as the Springbok Women opened their Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 campaign in style.
Swys de Bruin’s side ran in 10 tries at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton in a contest that they controlled from start to finish.
Hele led the scorers with three tries inside 50 minutes, as the No 8 showed her impressive pace and power on all three occasions to force her way through a belligerent Brazilian defence.
There was also two tries for Ayanda Malinga and Libbie Janse van Rensburg, while Nadine Roos and Aphiwe Ngwevu, who was named Player of the Match, and Lerato Makua also crossed the whitewash.
Brazil put up a stoic fight in their first-ever RWC match and completed 130 tackles in the first half alone but the Springbok Women ultimately proved too strong as they rose to the top of Pool D after the first round of matches.
Backed by a big South African support, who produced an impressive atmosphere throughout the match, the Bok Women put on a spectacle in return.
De Bruin’s side will now face Italy in York in a week’s time full of confidence from a strong performance against Brazil, before finishing the pool against France in Northampton.
South Africa made a blistering start and scored their first try within three minutes through Roos.
A strong scrum opened up plenty of space in the Brazilian 22, and Hele burst through the line before offloading to the onrushing Roos to score under the posts. Byrhandre Dolf added the conversion.
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The Springbok Women had their second try just five minutes later, when Hele muscled her way over from close range after more intense pressure.
Brazil responded by getting some early points on the board, as Raquel Kochhann slotted a penalty goal to reduce the score to 12-3 after 10 minutes.
However, the Springbok Women were relentless in their attack and were over again through Sinazo Mcatshulwa only for the ball to be held up on the line.
With half an hour on the clock, South Africa got their third try of the game as Hele powered through multiple tackles to score her second of the match. Dolf’s boot once more proved accurate to extend the score out to 19-3.
As the clock ticked towards half-time, South Africa continued to push hard and were rewarded with the bonus point just before the break. Brazil opted not to kick the ball out of play with the clock in the red and were ruthlessly punished.
Dolf produced a good carry into contact, before the ball was spread wide to Malinga who raced home in the corner. Dolf added the extras to send the Springboks Women into half-time with a 26-3 lead.
South Africa made a similarly explosive start to the second half, as Hele completed her hat-trick just three minutes after the restart.
A kick over the top released Dolf in behind the Brazil defence, and Hele was on hand for the pass to run in under the posts and grab her third try of the afternoon.
Janse van Rensburg then got herself on the scoresheet after more heavy pressure opened up space in the Brazil line, and she gratefully ran onto a pass from Roos to score from close range and push the scoreline out to 40-3 with half an hour remaining.
De Bruin then emptied his bench, with eight replacements entering the field and the fresh legs had the perfect impact as Janse van Rensburg scored her second try just two minutes later.
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Zintle Mpupha made the decisive break from midfield and Janse van Rensburg ran the perfect supporting line to collect the offload and race clear to score.
Brazil continued to work hard for scores of their own, and fly-half Kochhann kicked another penalty goal just before the hour.
South Africa duly responded and used the strength of their set-piece to score their eighth try of the afternoon.
A lineout five metres out was neatly executed and Ngwevu eventually barged her way over after a maul was halted just a few metres from the line.
The Springbok Women refused to let up and ran in their ninth try after slick passing through the backs set Malinga free on the wing to run in her second try of the match.
The victory was rounded off with aplomb in the dying minutes of the match, as Makua took advantage of an overthrown lineout by Brazil to cross for the tenth try.
With more than 330,000 tickets already sold, and prices starting at just £5 for children and £10 for adults, fans are encouraged to secure their tickets now via www.tickets.rugbyworldcup.com.
Springbok Women Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool D Schedule
Sunday 24 August
South Africa 66-6 Brazil
Scorers
Springbok Women 66 (26)
Tries: Nadine Roos, Aseza Hele (3), Ayanda Malinga (2), Libbie Janse van Rensburg (2), Aphiwe Ngwevu, Lerato Makua
Conversions: Byrhandre Dolf (8)
Brazil 6 (3) – Penalty goals: Raquel Kochhann (2)
Sunday 31 August
16h30: SA v Italy (York Community Stadium, York)
Sunday 7 September
17h45: SA v France (Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton)
(CAT Times)
Springbok Women vs Brazil in Northampton on Sunday, 24 August, 2025
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
3 Babalwa Latsha
2 Lindelwa Gwala
1 Sanelisiwe Charlie
Replacements
16 Micke Gunter
17 Yonela Ngxingolo
18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki
19 Vainah Ubisi
20 Lerato Makua
21 Catha Jacobs
22 Unam Tose
23 Jakkie Cilliers
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: An Aseza Hele hat-trick fired South Africa to a comfortable 66-6 victory over Brazil, as the Springbok Women opened their Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 campaign in style in a contest they controlled from start to finish in Northampton, England, on Sunday, 24 August, 2025. All Photos: Morgan Harlow – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images
Photo 2 Caption: Aseza Hele just before scoring the Women Boks’ second try during their Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool D match against Brazil.
Photo 3 Caption: Libbie Janse van Rensburg pictured diving over the line to score South Africa’s seventh of ten tries in the 66-6 thumping.
