Issued on: 20/07/2024 – 21:31

1 minute

When Springbok André Esterhuizen fouled team-mate Jose Lima with less than three minutes left on the clock, she watched replays of the incident and showed a yellow card in the one-off test match.

She also told an off-field official to review the incident and decide whether the penalty should be increased to a red card. A few minutes later, the yellow changed to red.

Davidson pulled another card from her pocket in the 35th minute for a foul committed by South African winger Kurt-Lee Arendse.

This time she felt that 10 minutes in the penalty box would be enough and in the second half Arendse returned with relief after the Springboks were temporarily reduced to 13 men.

Five minutes from time, the Scot took further disciplinary action, with substitute Quan Horn shown a yellow card for a foul.

Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick praised Davidson before the match.

“Hollie always exudes confidence and I like the way she handles games. Congratulations to her on becoming the first woman to handle a Springbok Test,” he said.

“Well done also to World Rugby for making this appointment. This is what transformation in rugby is all about.

“I have no doubt that in the future we will see many more female referees moving up through the structures and handling tests.”

“Before our game against Portugal I had seen Hollie play several times in the United Rugby Championship and she played fantastically in every game.

“Her appointment to coach the Springboks for the first time was absolutely deserved.”

© 2024 AFP