The Springbok Women’s Sevens started the Uruguay leg of the HSBC SVNS 2 tournament slowly, but exploded into try-scoring action to jump to the top of the standings after three matches at Estadio Charrua in Montevideo, Uruguay, Saturday, 21 March 2026.
The South Africans had a poor start in their opening match against Spain and conceded three tries in the opening seven minutes of the match, but rallied strongly, just running out of time in the second half as they went down 14-15.
They responded in impressive fashion with victories over China (38-0) and Brazil (26-0) to jump to the top of the standings at the end of day one, scoring 10 tries without reply in their last two encounters.
The opening half against Spain was a messy affair. The Bok Women conceded an early yellow card when Ayanda Malinga was sin-binned for slapping the ball down and conceded three tries as they just could not get any momentum in their play, with a rainstorm compounding matters.
A stern reminder of the reason for their trip across the Atlantic Ocean by SA coach Cecil Afrika had the desired effect and suddenly the class started to show. They came back strongly in the second half with two converted tries, but just ran out of time to clinch the match-winning try.
Malinga redeemed herself in the second match against China, scoring three tries in a clinical display of sevens by the South Africans. They never gave the Chinese a chance to breathe with strong defence, and impressed with fluency on attack, with a variety of tries scored by Malinga and co.
The huge winning margin — and some other results in the second round of matches — resulted in the Bok Women going to the top of the standings on points difference and they stayed there at the end of the day after another good performance against Brazil.
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The victory over Brazil was well executed. They never allowed the South Americans to get into any sort of momentum and redeemed the defeat suffered in the opening HSBC SVNS 2 tournament in Kenya.
Nadine Roos scored a double, Maria Tshiremba showed off her uncanny ability to round opponents with ease, and Catha Jacobs, back in the squad for the first time since 2020, scored a try to celebrate her return to the sevens code.
Two matches remain on Sunday, against Kenya at 19h23 (CAT time) and Argentina at 22h39.
Bok Women’s HSBC SVNS 2 Montevideo Results (CAT times) on Saturday 21 March
South Africa 14 (0) – 15 (15 )Spain
South Africa 38 (26) – 0 (0) China
South Africa 26 (12) – 0 (0)Brazil
Scorers
South Africa 14 (0), Spain 15 (15)
SA – Tries: Nadine Roos, Byrhandré Dolf
Conversions: Roos (2)
Spain – Tries: Marta Cantabrana, Carmen Miranda Miralles, Denisse Gortazar
South Africa 38 (26), China 0 (0)
SA – Tries: Ayanda Malinga (3), Maria Tshiremba, Nadine Roos, Shannon-Lee Windvogel
Conversions: Roos (4)
South Africa 26 (12), Brazil 0 (0)
SA – Tries: Nadine Roos (2), Maria Tshiremba, Catha Jacobs
Conversions: Roos (3)
Bok Women’s HSBC SVNS 2 Fixtures on Sunday 22 March
19h23: Kenya
22h39: Argentina
Springbok Women’s Sevens Squad for Montevideo
#3 Patience Mokone
#7 Maria Tshiremba
#9 Nadine Roos (captain)
#10 Byrhandré Dolf
#12 Liske Lategan
#14 Simamkele Namba
#16 Shiniqwa Lamprecht
#19 Shanidiné Bezuidenhout (uncapped)
#20 Catha Jacobs
#23 Ayanda Malinga
#26 Lerato Makua
#27 Maceala Samboya (uncapped)
#28 Shannon-Lee Windvogel
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Patience Mokone in picture carrying possession forwards against Spain. The Springbok Women’s Sevens started the Uruguay leg of the HSBC SVNS 2 tournament slowly, but exploded into try-scoring action to jump to the top of the standings after three matches at Estadio Charrua in Montevideo, Uruguay, Saturday, 21 March 2026. Photo: Gallo Images via SA Rugby
Graphic: The inaugural 2026 HSBC SVNS 2 Tournament Day 1 Match Results Graphic.
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