Mixed fortunes for SA Select Women’s Sevens
Springbok Women’s Sevens coach Renfred Dazel expressed his satisfaction with the performance of the SA Women’s Select side on Friday in Paris and expects another strong showing on Saturday, the second day of the invitational tournament they are participating in.
The SA Select Women’s Sevens team had mixed successes in the tournament being played in Paris.
The South Africans managed a fine win over Brazil in their opening match on day one in Marcoussis and then lost a close affair to France A in the Stade Jean Bouin. The score was 21-14.
“We were caught a big unawares today as we did not expect to play already. Three teams in the original six team tournament withdrew, which left us with only two French teams and Brazil as opponents. So we will play France B and Brazil again tomorrow. That said, we played well in certain areas. We focus a lot on defence and that worked well. We had some soft moments, but we are improving,” Dazel said.
In the match in Paris, played as a curtain raiser to the HSBC Paris tournament, the SA women showed good fighting spirit against a confident French side spurred on by the locals.
The hosts scored a soft try in the opening minute, but then had to defend for a long period as South Africa kept the ball well in attack and managed some great phases. A spilled ball created a turn-over though and France could score a second try to lead 14-0.
Veroeshka Grain then halved the lead with a strong run, with Libbie Janse van Rensburg converting.
The French then managed a third converted try, but another brilliant run by Grain and a conversion by Phumeza Gadu had the game up in the air again.
The South Africans ran out of time though and the French crowd could celebrate.
“We beat the French A side in Hong Kong in the final recently and I expected that they will bring a strong side out. Most of the players in that team are regulars on the women’s circuit,” Dazel said.
The team earlier in the day beat Brazil 14-7 at the National Center in Marcoussis.
“We did not play as well as we could, but it is important for us to beat teams that are playing on the regular circuit and will be contesting the Olympics, so that was a good win in that regard,” said Dazel.
“We are exposing a number of younger players in these tournaments as well, so we continue to grow our base and experience.
The team will play France B and Brazil on Saturday in Marcoussis.
