Bok Women's Sevens defend African title in Nairobi

The Springbok Women’s Sevens confirmed their standing as the best team on the continent after they outplayed hosts and main contenders, Kenya, in the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens Cup final in Nairobi on Sunday, and according to coach Cecil Afrika, it was a great team effort that brought them success.

After the final, won 22-0 by South Africa, Afrika said the attitude of the players during the tournament, a strong desire to play for the team and each other, and a good team spirit were foundations they could build on during their five matches, in which they scored 214 points without conceding a solitary point in Nairobi.

“The players really deserve the credit, they did put in such hard work and the results were a welcome reward for that,” said Afrika.

“We came here to defend our title but also to qualfiy for the Challenger 3 tournament, something we managed to do. So it is mission accomplished.”

Afrika was happy that the players stuck to the game plan: “There was a good bond in the squad and the players remained a tight knit group throughout the weekend. That helped in us executing what we wanted to.”

The SA coach added that the next phase of their rebuilding phase will get under way next week.

“Next up is the international invitational tournament in Dubai in two weeks’ time, as part of the Emirates Dubai Sevens, so the focus will move to that now.

“We will name some players in that squad that are still developing as we need to broaden the base for the Challenger 3 tournament in January, that will also take place in Dubai.

“I believe we will have good internal competition inside the squad to make it to that big one in Dubai next year.”

Afrika said he is very proud of this group and believes the country are too: “We really go out there to represent out country to the best of our abilities and to make them proud, I think we managed that. A big thank you to all the supporters, it really helps to motivate us.”

Team captain Nadine Roos also complemented her teammates for their effort.

“We really came here with a strong mindset and purpose and I think we showed what we are capable of,” said Roos.

“I think the way we defended, especially in the final against Kenya, proved how much we wanted to win as we kept them out, as we did with all our opponents during the weekend.”

After steamrolling Ghana 48-0 and Madagascar 29-0 in the quarter- and semi-finals earlier on Sunday, the SA side had good momentum going into the final against Kenya, who outplayed Uganda for the finals berth.

The victory also confirmed that the Bok Women qualified for the eight-team Division Three competition that will be staged as a standalone Challenger event in Dubai in January.

The first half of the final was a tight affair. Kenya started well and the South Africans were penalised at the breakdown often but their tactics of quick tap penalties did not bear any fruit.

Instead, it was South Africa who struck first when Shiniqwa Lamprecht saw a gap from a set-piece, stepped inside the defenders and raced to the line to score five minutes in. Roos converted and at the break, the lead was 7-0.

The next try, from the restart of the second half, sealed the deal. In long, flowing movements, the Bok Women took the ball through numerous phases before Simamkele Namba was the recipient of the final pass and the lead jumped to 12-0.

Not to be outdone by her fellow backs, wing Patience Mokone then finished in style, stepping her opponent on the inside after a flowing backline move that silenced the crowd as they realised their Lionesses were tamed by the South Africans.

Roos drove the final nail in the coffin following a quick tap from a penalty, extending the winning margin an impressive 22 points.

Maria Tshiremba was in devastating form against Ghana and scored three tries in the first half of the quarter-final. Lamprecht scored a brace as the defending champions raced to a 29-0 lead at the break.

The second half delivered three more tries – a brace from Ayanda Malinga and on from Leigh Fortuin.

Against Madagascar, the South Africans dominated possession and territory and never looked in trouble. Namba was very sharp on attack and scored a first half brace on their way to a 17-0 lead at the break.

The second half delivered more fruits on attack, with Zintle Mpupha scoring early and Liske Lategan late in the half for South Africa to go into the final with momentum.

• Roos (48) scored the most points for the team and was also named Player of the Final. Tshiremba (7), Namba (6) and Mokone (6) scored the most tries for the team.

Scores

Quarter-final: South Africa 48 (29), Ghana 0 (0)

SA – Tries: Shiniqwa Lamprecht (2), Maria Tshiremba (3), Ayanda Malinga (2), Leigh Fortuin. Conversions: Nadine Roos (2), Byrhandré Dolf (2)

Semi-final: South Africa 29 (17), Madagascar 0 (0)

SA – Tries: Simamkele Namba (2), Maria Tshiremba, Zintle Mpupha, Liske Lategan. Conversions: Nadine Roos (2).

Final: South Africa 22 (7), Kenya 0 (0)

SA – Tries: Shiniqwa Lamprecht, Simamkele Namba, Patience Mokone, Nadine Roos. Conversion: Roos.