The Springbok Women’s Sevens team is set to make their mark at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town this weekend as they aim for the top spot in the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger Series. With a strong performance in the first leg of the tournament, where they secured a third-place finish, the South African squad is determined to climb to the summit in the second round.

Nadine Roos, the tournament’s leading points scorer, believes a dominant showing could push the team to the top of the standings. Speaking ahead of their crucial Pool C clashes against Samoa and Poland, Roos outlined the team’s strategy and areas of focus.

Tactical Approach to Pool C Opponents

South Africa faces Samoa in their opening match on Friday, a team known for its physicality and speed. Roos acknowledged the challenge but expressed confidence in her team’s ability to counter their style.

“Samoa is a physical team, but they also have two speedsters we need to keep an eye on,” she said. “They play direct, so we need to be clinical in our first-time tackles to prevent them from building momentum.”

She also highlighted an area of weakness in Samoa’s defense that South Africa aims to exploit. “We noticed in our analysis that they tend to be narrow in their defensive structure. This plays into our hands because we want to stretch them by playing an expansive game and moving the ball from side to side.”

The team will then take on Poland, a side they are more familiar with, having faced them in past encounters. While Poland is also a physical team, Roos believes the Springbok Women’s Sevens have the upper hand.

“They are tough, but not as much as Samoa. They follow a specific pattern, and if we disrupt that, I don’t think their Plan B is as strong. Plus, we have the speed advantage, and our pace players must capitalize on every opportunity,” she added.

Momentum and Home Support

Last weekend, the Springbok Women’s Sevens showcased their defensive prowess, not conceding a single try on the first day. Roos believes this resilience will be key to their success.

“These girls don’t stop fighting. We chase back, we hunt everything down, and that attitude won’t change,” she said.

She also emphasized the impact of playing in front of a home crowd at Athlone Stadium, which she believes will provide an extra boost.

“Every ounce of energy from the crowd lifts us. We love playing in front of our supporters, and we’re hoping for a big turnout this weekend.”

With the top teams still in contention, South Africa remains focused on securing maximum points in this leg of the series. Roos remains optimistic about their chances of finishing at the top.

“We are determined to win this one. Anything can happen in the top four, and we could find ourselves in a strong position heading into the final tournament in Poland.”

Tournament Standings and Fixtures

Currently sitting third in the series standings with 16 points, the Springbok Women’s Sevens trail Kenya (20 points) and Argentina (18 points). A strong finish this weekend could see them move up the rankings before the final round.

South Africa’s Pool C fixtures at Athlone Stadium on Friday, March 7:

15:11 – South Africa vs Samoa

18:52 – South Africa vs Poland

Springbok Women’s Sevens Squad:

Leigh Fortuin, Zintle Mpupha, Felicia Jacobs, Maria Tshiremba, Kayla Swarts, Nadine Roos, Mathrin Simmers (captain), Kemisetso Baloyi, Shiniqwa Lamprecht, Ayanda Malinga, Alicia Willemse, Rights Mkhari.

As the tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on the Springbok Women’s Sevens team as they push for Challenger Series glory on home soil.