The Springbok Women’s Sevens started their HSBC SVNS play-off tournament in perfect fashion with impressive victories over Argentina and Belgium in Madrid on Friday to set up a Pool B decider against Brazil at Civitas Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain, on Friday, 31 June, 2024.
The South Africans showed good composure and clinical finishing in both matches and the same will be needed against Brazil, who also outplayed the same two opponents on day one.
Against Argentina in their opening match, South Africa had the perfect start, with Nadine Roos scoring in the opening minute. A lovely try by Maria Tshiremba had the Bok Women up 12-0 at the break, before Argentina scored first in the second half to cut the lead to five points.
However, another five pointer by Roos and a second from Tshiremba eased the South African mood.
Roos added three tries to her tournament tally against Belgium in a game that showed the difference in intensity between the two sides.
The South Africans scored some beautifully worked tries and had enough defensive pressure to force their opponents into mistakes as well.
Belgium did score a try when South Africa’s Sizophila Solontsi was in the sin bin for a dangerous tackle, one of the few mistakes made on a good day for the Springbok Women’s Sevens.
Afterwards, Roos was satisfied with their effort, which will give the team momentum going into the second day of the tournament, adding that they are looking forward to the Brazil match.
Photo: World Rugby
“We had some very close matches so far this year, with one score the difference in the last two matches we played,” said Roos. “We take some good momemtum into tomorrow, but will have to be at our very best to beat Brazil and finish top of the pool.”
Overview – Rest of the Tournament
HSBC SVNS 2024 League Winners New Zealand kicked off their Grand Final campaign in emphatic style with a 49-14 defeat over Great Britain, while China were the stars of the HSBC SVNS Play-offs with wins over Spain and Japan.
Photo: World Rugby
China, who finished first in the HSBC Challenger series, beat Spain, the HSBC SVNS 12th seeds, 12-7, before seeing off Japan by 17-14 to strengthen their chances of securing a spot on the series next season.
Elsewhere, France took top spot in Pool B of the Championship after victory over Fiji, while South Africa and Brazil set up a decider for Pool B in the Play-off competition as they both went two from two on day one.
HSBC SVNS Championship – Pool A
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe crossed for a five-minute hattrick in the first half against GB to give her side a 21-0 lead at the break. The Black Ferns Sevens didn’t let up in the second, crossing for four more, before Jasmine Joyce came off the bench to soften the score line with two runaway scores.
A dominant first half saw the USA beat Canada 26-19 in their North American showdown despite a late flurry of tries from their opponents. Ilona Maher beat two defenders to put the USA ahead in the first minute, Kayla Canett and Kristi Kirshe taking them to a 21-0 lead at the break.
Piper Logan gave Canada hope in the second, but while they would score twice more, Alex Sedrick had already taken the game out of sight with her second half score.
HSBC SVNS Championship – Pool B
France got their Grand Final weekend off to a flyer with a 36-7 victory over Fiji. They took a slim 10-7 lead into the break but ran away with it in the second, Anne-Cecile Ciofani completing her hattrick as France take the lead in Pool B going into day two.
Australia also started strongly in Pool B with a 33-14 win over Ireland. A duo of brace’s from both the Levi sisters, Maddison and Teagan, plus a fifth from the returning Charlotte Caslick, were enough for the win.
HSBC SVNS Play-off – Pool A
China became the first Challenger series victors in the Play-off tournament with their 12-7 win over Spain. The home side had taken a slim 7-5 lead into the break but went scoreless in the second half, a converted score from Liu Xiaoqian with Spain’s Paula Requena in the bin seeing them home.
And they backed it up in their second game with victory over Japan, going two from two with a 17-14 victory. Japan had opened the scoring but China hit back with three unanswered tries.
Honoka Tsutsumi scored late for Japan but didn’t have enough time for the winner as they lost possession off the kick-off. Japan, however, had started their tournament in convincing fashion with a 32-0 victory over Poland, Chiharu Nakamura and Honoka Tsutsumi both scoring braces.
Meanwhile, Spain gave their home crowd something to cheer about as they replied with an authoritative performance to beat Poland 45-5, leaving plenty to play for in their clash with Japan tomorrow.
HSBC SVNS Play-off – Pool B
Like with South Africa’s Day 1 performances, it was a similarly dominant start for Brazil in Madrid, who also went unbeaten with a 45-4 defeat over Belgium and a 31-12 victory against Argentina. They will face South Africa to decide the pool tomorrow afternoon.
The Springbok Women’s Sevens at the 2024 HSBC SVNS Qualifier Tournament
#21 Byrhandre Dolf
#4 Zintle Mpupha
#96 Libbie Janse van Rensburg
#18 Shiniqwa Lamprecht
#12 Liske Lategan
#10 Mathrin Simmers
#24 Veroeshka Grain
#7 Eloise Webb
#16 Maria Tshiremba
#17 Sizophila Solontsi
#3 Ayanda Malinga
#9 Nadine Roos
#13 Kemisetso Baloyi
Qualifier Pool B Fixtures and Fixtures (CAT Times)
Friday 31 May
South Africa 24 – 7 Argentina
12:22pm Brazil 45 – 4 Belgium
3:06pm South Africa 40 – 7 Belgium
3:28pm Brazil 31-12 Argentina
Saturday 1 June
1:28pm Argentina v Belgium
1:51pm Brazil v South Africa
Scorers
South Africa 40 (26), Belgium 7 (0)
SA – Tries: Nadine Roos (3), Zintle Mpupha, Maria Tshiremba, Ayanda Malinga Conversions: Roos (4), Libbie Janse van Rensburg
Belgium – Try: Louka Blommaert
Conversion: Margaux Stevins
South Africa 24 (12) – Argentina 7 (0)
SA – Tries: Nadine Roos (2), Maria Tshiremba (2)
Conversions: Roos (2)
Argentina – Try: Mayra Genghini
Conversion: Sofia Gonzalez
Qualifier Pool A
1. Japan
2. Spain
3. China
4. Poland
Qualifier Pool B
1. Brazil
2. South Africa
3. Argentina
4. Belgium
Championship Pool A
1. New Zealand
2. USA
3. Canada
4. Great Britain
Championship Pool B
1. Australia
2. France
3. Fiji
4. Ireland
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications and World Rugby, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: South Africa’s Maria Tshiremba and Liske Lategan celebrate a try against Argentina on day one of the HSBC SVNS Grand Final at Stadium Civitas Metropolitano on 31 May, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. Photo: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby
Photo 2 Caption: Argentina and South Africa enter the game on day one of the HSBC SVNS Qualifiers in Madrid, Spain. Photo: World Rugby
Photo 3 Caption: SA bring down the treat posed by Argentinas Mayra Genghini on day one, going on to a comfortable win Photo: World Rugby
Photo 4 Caption: China beat Spain before seeing off Japan to strengthen their chances of securing a spot on the 2025 SVNS series. Photo: World Rugby
Photo 5 Caption: France’s Marie Dupouy charges through the Fiji defense in the Championship’s Pool B. Photo: World Rugby
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