NADI. – Aseza Hele made a successful return to the Test arena on Saturday as the Springbok Women opened their tour of Fiji with a commanding 55-12 win in Suva, and the loose forward says the comeback felt as good as her international debut.
Read more: Janse van Rensburg to lead Springbok Women vs Fijiana in Suva
Aseza Hele back to her best after hand surgery
Hele played her 33rd Test in Suva, her first appearance for South Africa since the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England almost a year ago. The Hermanus-based loose forward missed the early part of the season after a hand injury that required surgery.
“Coming back from rehabilitation, one is not always hundred percent sure how the body will react in a match situation. So I was pleased the way it went, given that I did not play for a while,” Hele said in a press release issued to The Daily Pod.
She finished with 16 ball carries and 127 metres gained, and her physicality troubled the Fijian defence throughout. “My fitness and conditioning was good. In these type of games you need to be at your best when it comes to fitness, so I am very happy the way it played out,” she said. “There were some nerves at the beginning, but that is normal.”
Aseza Hele expects a tougher second Test in Lautoka
The second Test takes place at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Saturday, with kick-off at 13h00 local time, or 03h00 SA time. Hele is expecting a sterner examination from the hosts.
“We know they will come back stronger. But that is good for us too, as we respond well to pressure,” she said. “We stuck to our system and the system rewarded us.”
Saturday’s result also settled an old score. Fiji beat South Africa with the final play of the match in their only previous meeting, at the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. “We have buried that one now,” Hele said. “That defeat in New Zealand was still hurting and with this performance, we buried that for good.”
Aseza Hele said the layoff renewed her appreciation of the green and gold. “You don’t know how much you will miss that jersey until it happens, but I just realised it again,” she said. “The mental side of the rehab is always the toughest. Patience is often a virtue as sometimes rehab has its ups and downs and for me it is 90% mental, 10% physical. So I am very pleased that I could be back doing what I love, playing for my country and inspiring others.”
The team for the second Test will be named on Wednesday. Lerato Makua and Eloise Webb are unavailable after picking up injuries last week, but captain Babalwa Latsha could return. Squad and fixture details are available at springboks.rugby.
* Press release.
