A new challenge awaits the Springbok Women against Fiji on Sunday, but for hard-grafting loosehead prop Sanelisiwe Charlie, her goals remain the same.
The Bok Women, who have never faced the Fijiana, are desperate to fire in the Pool C clash of the Rugby World Cup at Eden Park.
South Africa went down 40-5 to France in the tournament opener on Saturday, before the Fijians were record losers in a 84-19 defeat by England 24 hours later.
“I want to dominate my opponent; I want to secure penalties for my team,” Charlie said.
“And I want to assist in mauls, make tackles, and carry the ball. The nice thing about all of that is that I can do so with my team and when we play together, we get things done.”
When it was announced that the women’s Rugby World Cup will be hosted by New Zealand a couple of years ago, Charlie did not see herself being part of the potential RWC squad.
“I was 19 or 20 at the time and just starting out with my rugby career. The Springbok Women also had established players in my position, so I did not really see myself being part of that group,” the 22-year-old from Nelson Mandela Bay said.
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Charlie was already on the national radar, though, with the Junior Springbok Women as they prepared for a tour to play against their Zimbabwean counterparts north of the SA border.
Fast forward to 2021 and Stanley Raubenheimer’s first national squad named post the pandemic, Charlie – now a starting prop for the EP Queens and excelling in a double round of the SA Rugby Women’s Premier Division – found herself in the squad to face Kenya in two Tests in Stellenbosch.
She was named on the bench in the first Test and then started at tighthead in the second for her international debut. Another call-up followed for the November tour to Europe, and although she was not used in the two Tests against France or Wales, Charlie got a run against the England U20s and Barbarians in the final two matches of the tour.
But, when Raubenheimer named his initial squads for 2022, Charlie was not included, as the coaches were not happy with the feedback of her conditioning.
“That was a tough time for me,” she said. “But thanks to the support of my family, I worked harder and harder and I was delighted to be called back into the squad for the African Cup.”
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Come the biggest day of the year for the women’s game and opening the Rugby World Cup in Auckland, Charlie was wearing the No 1 shirt and she did not disappoint with a solid performance, forcing a number of scrum penalties.
“The knowledge that I can compete at this level was just such a boost and for me the biggest achievement of my life. Look, no prop scrums alone, so it is not about me, but it was great to force my opponent to concede penalties and for our forwards to enjoy dominance over a highly rated French pack.
“I did my part around the field, even had a run and really enjoyed myself out there. I played almost 70 minutes in total and enjoyed every one of them.”
Photo: @WomenBoks/Twitter
