Brave but battered: Bok Women’s Sevens face injury worries after mixed Sao Paulo showing

The Springbok Women’s Sevens team left Sao Paulo with a fifth-place finish and a sense of defiance – but it is the mounting injury toll, rather than the mixed results, that now shapes their outlook ahead of the HSBC SVNS World Championship Series.

Already stretched coming into the final HSBC SVNS 2 tournament at Estádio Nicolau Alayon, the squad was hit hard by the loss of captain and chief playmaker Nadine Roos, alongside Simamkele Namba, Liske Lategan, Shannon-Leigh Windvogel and Patience Mokone. By Sunday, they were down to just eight available players – a scenario that tested their depth and resolve.

For head coach Cecil Afrika, that response stood out as much as any result. 

“We had to dig deep, really deep, and the way our players responded was massive,” Afrika said. “They knew that it was up to them to play for the team, and it was great to see how we came back from that to finish strongly by overhauling China.”

Roos’ absence in particular reshaped the side. As the team’s primary decision-maker and attacking spark, her injury left a leadership and creativity void that a reshuffled line-up struggled to consistently fill. With combinations disrupted and players thrust into unfamiliar roles, cohesion – especially on attack – proved elusive.

That was evident in the 19-5 defeat to Argentina, where South Africa defended bravely for long periods but lacked the cutting edge to turn possession into points. Even when Ayanda Malinga crossed for a first-half try, the momentum was short-lived.

Yet, their response against China captured the character Afrika referred to. Trailing 10-0 at the break and visibly tiring, the Bok Women rallied. Asisipho Plaatjies sparked the comeback before Shanidiné Bezuidenhout – stepping into a key playmaking role – sliced through for a decisive try in a 14-10 win. 

Afrika singled out Bezuidenhout’s growth, particularly under pressure. “She had to step into Nadine’s shoes on day two and did very well,” he said. “She came of age against China – not only scoring the try that gave us the lead, but also making a crucial cover tackle to help us close out the game.”

Despite their setbacks, South Africa’s defensive effort remained a cornerstone of their performance. They finished the tournament with the fewest missed tackles and ended the series second overall on defence, boasting a 79% tackle completion rate – a statistic that underlined their resilience across stops in Nairobi, Montevideo and Sao Paulo, where they ultimately finished third overall to qualify for the World Championship.

Still, attention now turns to recovery. Afrika will be in constant contact with team doctor Minjon Ras as assessments on Roos, Windvogel, Lategan and Namba to determine their availability for Hong Kong, where the 12-team series kicks off from April 17-19.

The Top 8 will book their place in Division 1 next year.

There were positives beyond the results. Debutants such as Bezuidenhout and Maceala Samboya impressed, while Catha Jacobs’ return added physicality to the team. But with the World Championship looming, the equation is simple: the Springbok Women’s Sevens have shown they can fight through adversity – now they need their key players back to truly compete.