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IOL News
04-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Springbok Women's Sevens secure thrilling victory over Argentina
Zintle Mpupha experience was invaluable for teh Springbok Women's Sevens team against Argentina on Sunday night. | Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix The Springbok Women's Sevens team beat Argentina 17-14 in their drama-filled play-off encounter to secure a crucial place in the Top 4 at the HSBC SVNS play-off tournament at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles on Sunday. Replacement centre Leigh Fortuin, who had scored her first try for South Africa in an earlier loss against China, scored probably the biggest try of her fledgling sevens career to seal the late win for the Springbok Women's Sevens. The victory means that the South Africans have secured a place in the second-tier World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series next season, and therefore a shot at restoring their core HSBC SVNS World Series status. The Bok Women's Sevens had endured an up- and-down start in their first two pool games in Los Angeles on Saturday, beating Ireland by 12-7 before going down to China 26-12 in their second game. But they were able to set things straight in the play-off against Argentina, who also featured in the Challenger Series tournaments alongside the South Africans. In fact, the South African side had beaten the Argentina Women in the final of the Challenger Series tournament in Poland. The South African side had to make do without the assured presence of injured skipper Mathrin Simmers. But there was plenty of experience in the form of forwards Zintle Mpupha and Simamkele Namba, and exciting attacking talent Nadine Roos. The SA side knocked the ball into touch off the kick-off but drove Argentina back with their rush defence. They failed to take advantage of a break down the right wing, again knocking the ball on in a promising position. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ The defensive intensity from both sides was noticeable, with the Springbok Women shading the early exchanges. That pressure told when Ayanda Malinga scored the first points for SA after Argentina spilled the ball in a tackle near their tryline. Roos kicked the conversion (7-0). The SA side weathered some pressure from Argentina but Zandile Masuku was yellow-carded with seconds left on the clock in the first half. Argentina made the extra player count straight away, moving the ball through the hands and shifting the South African defence sideways, before scoring via Sofia Gonzalez, and adding the extra two points off the boot. The sides were level at 7-7 at half-time. Coach Renfred Dazel brought Fortuin on for the second half, and she would have the final say. The #BokWomen7s refused to give up and scored two late tries to beat Argentina by 17-14 in their final pool game in LA - more at 😤#RiseUp #HSBCSVNS — SA Women's Rugby (@WomenBoks) May 4, 2025 But Argentina got the first try of the second stanza to go 14-7 up with SA still one player down. Shiniqwa Lamprech was brought on for Masuku. Malinga pulled off a try-saving tackle but the South Africans were getting pinged for repeated infringements at the breakdown. Their handling was also sloppy. The Springbok Women were forced to play on the back foot with three minutes remaining in the match. However, Maria Tshiremba sprinted the length of the field to dot down after Roos intercepted a pass in their 22 and set the speedster on her way. Game on!
The South African
29-04-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Willemse determined to make a mark in green and gold
The 2025 season has been a bit of a blur for Alicia Willemse thus far, but on Saturday in Los Angeles at the Sevens Series play-off, the 27-year-old playmaker will strive to be at her brightest and clearest of minds. Donning the Springbok Women's Sevens jumper this time around, Willemse will be expected to combat and outplay Ireland and China alongside her teammates, barely two weeks after a memorable day in Alicante, Spain. Then, Willemse came off the bench as replacement-scrumhalf to earn a first Test cap for the Springbok Women in a once-off international against Spain, barely five weeks after making her debut in the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town. 'It is really exciting times,' Willemse said shortly after the team arrived on the west coast of the USA for the final sevens tournament of the 2025 season, and for the Springbok Women's Sevens, a most important one. The play-off tournament, where they will also face Argentina in their final pool match on Sunday, will determine the South Africans' fate for the next season of Sevens Series and in a way, the career choices the DHL Western Province player will have to make. Upon returning from Los Angeles, Willemse will be back in the Springbok Women training squad, aiming to make it to the Rugby World Cup, to be played in England in August and September. 'I have worked hard towards that goal and getting my first cap for the fifteens side was something I had on my radar,' said Willemse, who missed out on Test match selection last year, despite touring to Europe where the Bok Women played against Spain and the USA. 'Come to think of it, the sevens call-up was probably a bigger feat, as I never really expected it, nor focused so much on that code. 'I enjoy playing sevens and I still do, as a smaller player I enjoy the freedom of space a bit more, so I can't wait to go out and play with a bunch of very talented teammates. I am really grateful and privileged to have played for both national teams for the first time in such a short space of time.' Willemse said the desire to do justice in the green and gold drives both teams: 'Whether fifteens or sevens, both teams are desperate to do the jersey justice and make the country proud. I have not walked the sevens journey that long, but can tell you that this team is very, very determined to regain that top 12 spot on the world circuit.' The Springbok Women's Sevens team will have some comforts in Los Angeles, with the memory of their best finish of the 2024 Sevens Series at this very venue. The team finished sixth overall and moved to 10th on the tournament log after two good wins over Brazil and Fiji. 'That performance showed that we can compete against the best, but more encouraging would be the recent performances in Krakow, where the team won the final Challenger tournament. The momentum gained will work well for us this weekend,' added Willemse. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
