We owe Brazil one, says Springbok Women's flyer Nadine Roos ahead of Rugby World Cup opener
Image: BackpagePix
The Springbok Women's team have a few scores to settle with Brazil in their Rugby World Cup opener in Northampton on Sunday, according to utility back Nadine Roos.
The Boks and Brazil have never met in the 15-player code previously, but Roos along with teammates Ayanda Malinga, Eloise Webb, Zintle Mpupha and Sizophila Solontsi have all suffered at the hands of the South Americans on the World Sevens Series circuit.
In four matches, the Bok Sevens team have only beaten Brazil once.
'I've faced Brazil quite a few times on the Sevens circuit. Some very close, some were a bit further away, slipped out of our hands,' Roos said from the Boks' RWC training base in Kettering.
'But I definitely think facing them at the Rugby World Cup, it's going to be a good one. I think as South Africans, we owe them one.
'But yeah, they also have a good side, quality players, and we'll definitely want to take this one from them.'
First engagement of #WRWC2025 done and dusted - official welcoming ceremony in Northampton. pic.twitter.com/YMQse40h4p — SA Women's Rugby (@WomenBoks) August 18, 2025
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Roos was particularly wary of the speed Brazil possess out wide and also the playmaking skills of veteran Edna Santini, who is poised to become the first player to appear at a Rugby World Cup, Rugby World Cup Sevens, Sevens World Series, Olympic Games and a Rugby League World Cup.
'I think definitely the speedsters they have in the team, it almost looks like they have all their Sevens players here. They're also pretty versatile players. But I definitely think in terms of the speed that they have, once they're in space, it's quite difficult to stop them.
'So I think for our team, my advice to them is just kill their time and space on the ball and don't give them anything. They don't really like the contact. You can even see it on the Sevens circuit as well.
'I think definitely that's where we can punish them by just closing and killing their space. And I definitely also think the playmakers don't give them time on the ball because if they put those speedsters in space, they will run circles around you. That's a really good quality that they have.'
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