The Springbok Women could not have scripted a better opening act at the Women’s Rugby World Cup. A dazzling hat-trick from Aseza Hele lit the stage as South Africa swept Brazil aside with a commanding 66-6 victory at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton.

Ten tries, a relentless pace, and a crowd painted green and gold – it was the kind of performance that sends a clear message: the Bok Women have arrived, and they mean business. From the very first whistle, the Springboks looked sharper, faster, hungrier. Nadine Roos struck inside three minutes, feeding off a powerful surge from Hele to get the scoreboard moving. The No 8 then made the stage her own, bulldozing her way through defenders and clocking three tries in under 50 minutes, each effort underscoring her combination of brute force and acceleration.

Ayanda Malinga and Libbie Janse van Rensburg each crossed twice, Aphiwe Ngwevu capped off a Player of the Match display with a try of her own, and Lerato Makua rounded off the spectacle with the tenth score late on. Byrhandre Dolf kept the scoreboard ticking with a flawless eight conversions.

Brazil, playing their first-ever World Cup match, showed heart and defensive steel – their tally of 130 tackles in the first half alone a testament to their fight. But against the Springbok machine, grit alone was never going to be enough. By the break South Africa had already secured the bonus point and a 26-3 cushion, before racing away in the second half.

For head coach Swys de Bruin, it was the kind of start he had envisioned – strong, decisive, and disciplined. But his words carried both pride and caution.

“We wanted to set the tone for this tournament, and the players delivered,” De Bruin reflected. “The starters laid the perfect foundation, the bench finished brilliantly, and we kept Brazil tryless. That shows character. But let’s be honest , there’s plenty to tidy up. Our discipline, breakdown work, and ball security weren’t always up to scratch. If we want to match Italy next week, those areas must improve.”

Indeed, Italy looms large. The Boks top Pool D after the first round, but the next clash in York will determine whether they cement a quarter-final berth. De Bruin was quick to temper celebrations with a reset: “We’ve got momentum, yes, but the focus shifts immediately to Italy. “They’re seasoned, they’re hurting after the France result, and they’ll come at us. We’ll need to be sharper.”

Captain Nolusindiso Booi echoed her coach’s balance of pride and perspective.“We played for the full 80 minutes and that’s what I’m proud of,” she said. “There was a moment early on where we lost our shape, but we regrouped well. Everyone, from starters to replacements, did their job. To start the World Cup like this is special, but we know the real tests are coming.”

For Booi, the challenge now is mental as much as physical. “Italy are a top-ten side. They’ll be desperate, and we cannot afford to be complacent. The coaches will have the plan, as they did for Brazil, and our job is to recover, reset, and be ready to execute.”

The Bok Women will head north to York on Monday with confidence soaring, their game sharpened by both brilliance and the promise of better to come. Hele’s hat-trick and the ten-try rout were more than just a statement win , they were a glimpse of what this side can be when belief, power, and execution align.The world has been put on notice: South Africa’s women are not here to make up the numbers. They are here to compete.