Khuzwayo says Springbok Women own their underdog status ahead of Spain test in Seville

Xoliswa Khuzwayo says the Springbok Women have no problem wearing the underdog label as South Africa build momentum through their autumn international campaign, with a trip to Seville to face Spain on Sunday the next test of their credentials.

Currently ranked tenth in the world, South Africa lost to Wales in Cardiff before bouncing back with a 41-27 victory over Italy in Pordenone. Spain arrive at the fixture fresh from a third-place finish at the WXV Global Series Challenger in Hong Kong, making Sunday’s contest a meaningful mid-tier clash between two sides pushing at the edges of the game’s established order.

“Amongst the top ten we are still the underdogs, but that is something we don’t mind being called,” Khuzwayo said. “We are okay with that tag. We know what we know and where we are going.”

The 27-year-old prop made her international debut against Spain in Valladolid two years ago and has since represented her country at the Women’s Rugby World Cup and collected two Rugby Africa Women’s Cup titles. Earlier this summer she started in the Springbok Women’s whitewash tour of Fiji, underlining her growing importance to the squad.

Khuzwayo faces competition for a place in the matchday 23 from Yonela Ngxingolo and Saneliswe Charlie, but she is confident that her accumulated experience gives her an edge over the player who first faced Spain in Valladolid.

“I am a much more experienced player than last time, so that will make a difference,” she said. “It gives one confidence that you have played at this level for a while now, as last time I was starting in my first Test.”

She also pointed to the collective growth of the squad as a source of belief. South Africa’s run to the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals a year ago announced them as a team capable of troubling the sport’s elite, and Khuzwayo believes the standards demanded in training are now matching that ambition.

“We have grown as a team as well — we are now in the top ten and competing against the number twos and fives of this world, so you have to deliver when you get your opportunity,” she said. “We also know that if we work hard at training, the coaches will reward that.”