Springbok Women’s Sevens head coach Renfred Dazel praised the effort of Nadine Roos after the flyhalf achieved the unlikely feat of scoring all South Africa’s points, after Day 3 of the HSBC SVNS at BC Place in Vancouver on Sunday, 25 February, 2024.
Roos managed to score a try in all five matches they played (including a brace against Brazil) and kicked two conversions as well for a total tournament tally of 34 points. She was also amongst the team’s leading tacklers over all three days.
“Nadine is a true professional, and her value to our team is immense.”
Springbok Women’s Sevens head coach, Renfred Dazel
“Her personality is such that she wants to be a winner and always gives her best, which for someone with her talent, is quite a lot. She also fulfils a strong leadership role in the team and that pushes the standard for other, younger players in the squad.
“She really wants to compete against the best in the world and playing in the world series affords her that opportunity, so for us playing against the top sides is where she wants to be. It is great to have such a world class player in your team.”
Mathrin Simmers, one of the team’s co-captains, shared Dazel’s sentiments on Roos after a tough weekend in Canada.
“The results did not go our way, but Nadine had a massive tournament,” said Simmers. “She is an exceptional and clever rugby player, and we are lucky to have her as she always gives that effort in training as well. To add to that, she is a very nice person too.”
The injury toll also hit the team hard, and they started the last match against Great Britain with only nine fit players. “That was tough, especially after two days of competition against the best teams in the world,” said Dazel.
“The injuries forced us to play some players out of their regular positions, which was a steep curve. They have trained there, but suddenly they must execute in a new position against a top-class team like Great Britain.”
Springbok Women’s Sevens head coach, Renfred Dazel
“We will have to follow a conservative route in bringing everyone back to fitness before next weekend. We will probably have one high intensity session and the rest will be all about detail.”
Following their 12th-place finish in Vancouver and the good performance by Spain in Canada, the Bok Women dropped to last on the series log.
Teams that finish outside the top eight will have to qualify for next season’s series again. The current bottom four are Brazil (20 log points), Spain (12), Japan (12) and South Africa (8).
South Africa have drawn Brazil again in Pool A at the HSBC SVNS Los Angeles next weekend, and will also face New Zealand and Fiji.
New Zealand Take Vancouver
In the competition’s main draw, New Zealand emerged victorious in Vancouver, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe’s hat-trick taking the Black Ferns Sevens to a 35-19 win over France in a dominating HSBC Vancouver 2024 final, defending their title and winning their first gold medal of the season.
After a rocky start to the year, the islanders were without peer all weekend on Canadian soil, scoring a total of 32 tries and conceding just seven all weekend.
Woodman-Wickliffe showed every bit of her pace to open the scoring in this final, but Anne-Cécile Ciofani squared things up moments later as she burst through the middle for France.
The Black Ferns Sevens had a nervy period in attack, but Michaela Blyde was there to cut through the confusion and the French defence, taking her side to a 14-7 lead.
A hot-stepping Jorja Miller added a third try through the middle, but it was the chip-through, perfectly weighted for Woodman-Wickliffe to gather and cross for her second, that showed that New Zealand just had too much for France.
France hit first in the second half to give some hope, but as Woodman-Wickliffe completed her hat-trick they were soon dissipated. Chloé Pelle added a final consolation try, but it was too little too late for a French side still chasing their first-ever SVNS tournament win.
Route to the Final
New Zealand gave themselves a chance to defend their Vancouver title as they won 15-7 over Canada in the first semi-final, when they cantered to an early 10-0 lead thanks to Michaela Blyde’s brace, but Charity Williams’ crucial turnover under their own sticks saw Krissy Scurfield turn defence to attack as she drew Canada within three.
Despite their best efforts, Canada’s defensive scramble couldn’t hold out the Kiwis forever, all-time SVNS series scorer Portia Woodman-Wickliffe finding a way through for their third. A final attacking set looked promising for Canada, but Manaia Nuku denied them with a try-saving tackle.
Meanwhile, France edged a thrilling semi-final with Australia by 21-19 as Dominique Du Toit missed the crucial conversion with the clock in the red. Maddison Levi scored her second try of the game in the final seconds to give Australia hope, but Du Toit’s effort at the extras drifted wide to send France to the Vancouver final.
14-14 at half-time, Anne-Cécile Ciofani’s break early in the second took France ahead. A breathless period of French defence followed, leaving Australia pinned into their own 22 as the buzzer went. And while patient attacking play saw Levi find space out wide and score, it wasn’t to be for Australia as they failed to make the final for the first time this season.
Canada Conquer Series Leaders to Take Bronze
In a closely fought contest, the scoreboard read 7-7 at the break, Canada making some impressive defensive efforts to nullify Australia in the wide channels.
And it was the hosts who drew first blood in the second half, Chloe Daniels flying through the Aussie line to take Canada 12-7 ahead. When Williams found space around the ruck to extend their lead to 12, all the momentum was heading their way.
A try from Levi, once again, threatened to crush Canadian hearts, but third place in Vancouver was theirs at full-time.
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications and World Rugby, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Coach has praise for prolific try scorer Nadine Roos who accounted for all of SA’s points at the HSBC SVNS in Canada, as the Women Boks face injury woes ahead of a challenging Los Angeles next up. In this image, Roos is pictured scoring against Perth champions Ireland, in South Africa’s pool stage fixture at the HSBC SVNS which concluded at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada, on Sunday, 25 February, 2024. Photo: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby
Photo 2 Caption: A sight to set off alarm bells for defensive lineups at the SVNS tournament – Nadine Roos has scored a try against each nation South Africa faced. Photo: David van der Sandt / SA Rugby
Photo 3 Caption: Nadine Roos circling around to cover ball carrier Simamkele Namba, pictured on attack during SA’s match against Great Britain. Photo: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby
Photo 4 Caption: Defending champions New Zealand won their first tournament of the new season, at the HSBC SVNS at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada, on Sunday, 25 February, 2024. Photo: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby
Photo 5 Caption: New Zealand’s Portia Woodman-wickliffe was honoured as HSBC Player of the Final on Sunday. Photo: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby
Photo 5 Caption: New Zealand’s Mahina Paul cuts through the Spain defence for a try on day two the SVNS Vancouver. Photo: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby
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