The Springbok Women’s Sevens squad are on a clear upward trajectory as they gear up for the biggest tournament of their season so far in their bid to return to the HSBC SVNS from the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.
The HSBC SVNS play-off at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles will feature the top teams in the Challenger Series who will compete against the bottom four teams in the HSBC Sevens for four places in next season’s main competition.
The South African women have shown steady improvement so far in the three Challenger series tournaments. They started the first tournament at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town with bronze, before following that up with silver in the second round at the same venue. Kenya won both the opening rounds.
However, they hit their straps with gold in the third Challenger Series tournament in Krakow, Poland. They beat Argentina 21-12 in the final, after exacting revenge on Kenya in the semi-final.
An extra cause for optimism in the South African squad is the inclusion of dual Springbok Simamkele Namba. The 26-year-old was a regular starter for the team during last season’s HSBC SVNS, but a serious knee injury sustained in Singapore ruled her out of rugby for almost a year.
Springbok Women’s Sevens head coach Renfred Dazel said the return of Namba, who also played for the Springbok Women at the previous Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, comes at the right time for the team.
“We do have some momentum after our win in Krakow earlier in the month, but this tournament is obviously a different kettle of fish, where the pressure to succeed will be massive,” said Dazel.
“Namba thrives in these situations and is such a great player to have around. She provides that spark that every team needs and I am just happy to have her back.”
There was also further good news for the South African side. Leigh Fortuin, Felicia Jacobs and Alicia Willemse are also back in the squad after missing out in Krakow. Willemse made her Test debut for the victorious Springbok Women in Spain at the time and Fortuin and Jacobs were recovering from injury.
Kemisetso Baloyi, who picked up an injury in Krakow, has not recovered in time for the trip to the US. She was one of the form players of the earlier tournaments and will be missed.
However, versatile attacking dynamo Nadine Roos, who has scored 18 tries so far in the series, Zintle Mpupha and Ayanda Malinga are back after joining the Bok Women on their recent tour of Spain.
Dazel said the experience of the play-off tournament gained in Madrid last year will help, though the format is different.
“This time, the crossover matches are a bit different as the second- and third-placed teams also get another opportunity, which will help us, although we are determined to top our pool to get into the semi-finals,” said Dazel.
Despite missing out on the intensity of regular tournament play, Dazel feels the momentum gained from the three Challenger tournaments will stand them in good stead when they face Ireland and China for the first time this season, before a rematch against Argentina.
“We started off with a third place in Cape Town where we just did not execute in our semi-final against Kenya, followed that up by committing nine handling errors in our final of the second tournament against Kenya, and then finally getting it right in Krakow, beating Argentina and Kenya along the way.
“The players have learned and improved in every outing, and we can go to Los Angeles knowing that we have a realistic opportunity to do well. There is good energy and the return of Namba, Willemse, Jacobs and Fortuin comes at just the right time.”
Springbok Women’s Sevens Pool B schedule
Saturday: v Ireland (7.44pm); SA v China (11.07pm)
Sunday: SA v Argentina (7pm)
Springbok Women’s Sevens squad: 1 Leigh Fortuin 3 Patience Mokone 4 Zintle Mpupha 6 Felicia Jacobs 7 Maria Tshiremba 9 Nadine Roos 10 Mathrin Simmers (capt) 11 Zandile Masuku 14 Simamkele Namba 16 Shiniqwa Lamprecht 23 Ayanda Malinga 27 Alicia Willemse 29 Rights Mkhari
