South Africa will play against Australia on Saturday evening (22:10 SA time) for a place in the Cup semi-finals of the Houston Sevens, in the second round of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series.
The South Africans showed great determination in their two narrow defeats against the USA and Canada on Friday, while they swept aside Argentina in in their opening Pool B match. They qualified for the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams.
Skipper Mandisa Williams and her SA team certainly played their part in the best match of the day against hosts USA, who won a hugely entertaining match 22-17 thanks to a decisive try on the sound of the siren.
USA took a 17-0 lead and looked home and dry but South Africa had other ideas and raced back with three fast tries through Yolanda Meiring, Phumeza Gadu and Nosiphiwo Goda to lead 19-17 with just seconds remaining on the clock.
However, with strong home support in their favour the USA’s determination paid off when Kelly Griffin skipped past a few defenders to score on the full-time whistle and to send the crowd into raptures.
Earlier, South Africa got off to a confident start when they defeated Argentina 27-0 thanks to a brace of tries each by veteran Meiring and the impressive Gadu, while Goda also crossed the line for the team coached by Denver Wannies.
Williams and Goda were the try-scorers against Canada in their 24-14 loss against the physical North Americans.
South Africa is currently second on the WSWS log after losing to winners New Zealand in the inaugural Women’s Series tournament in Dubai.
IRB Women’s Sevens World Series Cup Quarter-Finals in Houston, Texas, on 1 February, 2013: England v Netherlands Canada v New Zealand USA v Russia Australia v South Africa (22:10 SA time) Bowl Semi-Finals: Japan v Trinidad and Tobago Brazil v Argentina SA Results at Round 2 of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series, in Houston, Texas, on 1 February, 2013: South Africa 27-0 Argentina South Africa 19-22 USA South Africa 12-24 Canada Standings after Round 1 in Dubai: 1. New Zealand – 20 points 2. South Africa – 18 3. Spain – 16 4. Australia – 14 5. Russia – 12 The SA Women’s Sevens Squad for the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series, in Houston: 1. Yolanda Meiring (Blue Bulls) 2. Mandisa Williams (Border, captain) 3. Nwabisa Ngxatu (Border) 4. Sinazo Nobele (Border) 5. Nosiphiwo Goda (Border) 6. Fundiswa Plaatjie (Border) 7. Zenay Jordaan (Eastern Province) 8. Phumeza Gadu (Eastern Province) 9. Natasha Hofmeester (Western Province) 10. Belle Makwezele (Western Province) 11. Zaandre Theron (Western Province) 12. Mathrin Simmers (Southwestern Districts) IRB Women’s Sevens World Series: Round 1 – UAE: Dubai, Nov 30 – December 1, 2012 – 7he Sevens Stadium (winners – NZ, runners-up SA) Round 2 – USA: Houston, Texas, 1-2 Feb, 2013 – BBVA Compass Stadium Round 3 – China: Guangzhou, 30-31 Mar 2013 – Guangzhou University Town Stadium Round 4 – Netherlands: Amsterdam, 17-18 May 2013 – NRCA Stadium
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