Du Plessis returns to South Africa for first time in 11 years as Black Ferns face Springbok Women in Johannesburg

Amy du Plessis will step onto South African soil for the first time since 2014 this weekend when the Black Ferns face the Springbok Women in the historic first Test between the two nations at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg — a fixture that carries particular weight for the Canterbury centre after injury denied her the chance to face them at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.

Du Plessis suffered a shoulder injury in New Zealand’s opening 54-8 win against Spain in York after falling awkwardly in a tackle. She was expected to return for the quarter-final against South Africa but failed to recover in time, leaving her watching from the sidelines as her birth country was eliminated.

“The game you love doesn’t always love you back,” Du Plessis said. “I was absolutely gutted to not play against South Africa. They brought such a unique approach to the game with 15-woman rolling mauls, surprise tactics and huge physicality.”

The emotional stakes run deeper than rugby. Du Plessis was born in Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal — the hometown of Springboks lock Bakkies Botha — before her parents relocated to New Zealand when she was seven, settling on a dairy farm owned by her grandfather. She has not returned since. Her grandfather will be in the stands at FNB Stadium, having seen her play only once before.

“I won’t lie, it’s going to be an emotional one,” she said. “My grandfather is coming to the game. He’s only seen me play once.”

Despite the personal backdrop, Du Plessis is focused on the contest itself. She expects South Africa to bring the same disruptive energy they showed at the World Cup. “They’ve really grown their game over the past couple of years. We expect some surprises and heat in Johannesburg, but we have to focus on ourselves. We’re looking to play fast and build on recent performances.”

Du Plessis has been in sharp form heading into the fixture. In 2026 she has started all four Black Ferns wins, scoring tries in the 36-14 victory over Canada and the 40-5 defeat of Australia. In the 66-19 thrashing of Australia at North Harbour Stadium in Albany at the end of August, she led the team in linebreaks with three and metres carried with 79.

“The performance against Australia was awesome,” she said. “It was great to score so many points and come together only a week before the game and see things sticking like that.”

The 26-year-old has built her career steadily through the provincial and Super Rugby Aupiki pathways. She played 27 of Matatu’s 28 Super Rugby Aupiki games, including all 13 wins, before earning her Black Ferns debut against Canada in a 28-0 win in 2022. Since 2023 she has featured in 21 of New Zealand’s 28 Test matches, cementing her place as one of the team’s most reliable midfield options.

Saturday’s Test in Johannesburg represents a first meeting between the two nations on South African soil and a chance for Du Plessis to close a chapter that the World Cup left unfinished.