Springbok Women Sevens brace for contrasting Pool A tests at Dubai SVNS 3

The Springbok Women’s Sevens will not only have to cope with the pressure of trying to overcome the next hurdle on their mission to regain their core status on the world series, but with three group opponents with different playing styles and strengths in the HSBC SVNS 3 tournament in Dubai this weekend.

The Bok Women boast a settled, experienced team that should be able to cope with anything their rivals throw at them. They also have recent high-level sevens tournament experience from their victorious Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens campaign.   

SA coach Cecil Afrika feels that they are well-prepared for the challenge at the Sevens Stadium where they will face Mexico, Czechia and Thailand in Pool A.

“It is going to be an interesting pool, as all of Mexico, Czechia and Thailand have a different playing style and approach to the game,” said Afrika.

“We will focus on our first outing against Mexico to lay a proper foundation, but we also have to be ready for what comes afterwards.

“Mexico is unpredictable in what they do, so they will test us and we’ll have to think quick on our feet to see the big picture. They also play very quick and often look for inside passes when on attack. We are looking forward to that first challenge.” 

Their next outing, against Czechia, will be a very physical affair, according to Afrika.

“They play with a high intensity and the last year, when we played them in Cape Town, they came close to beating us, so (they) will have that added motivation. They have big, fast players and they will test our defence in a different way than Mexico would have done.”

The SA coach reckons the final pool match against Thailand will be about outsmarting their defence.

“They have very good tackle technique and go in low. They are very precise in their structures and love to play with a high intensity as well. Their speed at the breakdown is also worth mentioning, so we need to be ready for that.

“We are really looking forward to this weekend. We prepared well back home in South Africa and this week here in the desert city of Dubai. We know what we need to do and we are ready,” he added.

The SA coach settled on the same 12 players that travelled to Kenya two months ago, where they won the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens tournament without losing a match, a victory that booked their place at the Dubai event.

Nadine Roos will again lead the team, while the likes of Zintle Mpupha, Byrhandré Dolf and Ayanda Malinga will have more sevens fitness in their legs compared to two months ago, when they had just returned  from the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.

South Africa need to make it into the final in order to qualify for the next stage of the Challenger Series, three HSBC SVNS 2 tournaments to be played in Nairobi (February 14 and 15), Montevideo (March 21 and 22) and Sao Paulo on March 28 and 29.

Springbok Women’s Sevens squad for Dubai:
1. Leigh Fortuin, 2. Asisipho Plaatjies, 3. Patience Mokone, 4. Zintle Mpupha, 7. Maria Tshiremba, 9. Nadine Roos (captain), 10. Byrhandré Dolf, 12. Liske Lategan, 14. Simamkele Namba, 15. Vianca Boer, 16. Shiniqwa Lamprecht, 23. Ayanda Malinga.