The Springbok Women’s Sevens team is poised for a pivotal weekend as they compete in the play-off finals of the 2024 HSBC SVNS season-ending tournament in Madrid.
Taking place at the Civitas Metropolitano Stadium from Friday to Sunday, the tournament will see South Africa face Argentina, Belgium, and Brazil in a high-stakes bid to secure their place in the 2025 HSBC SVNS series.
The competition format features two pools of four teams each, with South Africa and Brazil facing off against two teams from the Challenger Series in their pool. The outcomes of these pool matches will determine which teams advance to the crucial play-off matches on Sunday.
The winners of the four quarter-finals will earn their spots in next year’s HSBC SVNS series, making every match this weekend critically important.
For head coach Renfred Dazel, the preparation and mental resilience of his players are key factors as they approach this decisive tournament. “We experienced high-intensity play for seven tournaments in six months on the world series,” Dazel said.
“It’s a matter of using that to our advantage against teams that did not experience that. We are a settled group and believe that will take us all the way.”
Dazel’s confidence is rooted in the team’s experience and preparedness. “We know what is needed – it’s straightforward, you need to win your quarter-final to stay on the circuit. That does create pressure, but we do have experienced campaigners with the ability to stay calm.
We have prepared well; we know what we need to do and what is at stake. So, this is a straightforward assignment.”
The Bok Women’s Sevens coach also expressed confidence in their matchups within Pool B. “I can’t recall us playing against Argentina before, but their style is similar to other South American teams. They love to keep the ball alive and attack with their scrum half from set pieces,” Dazel explained.
Regarding Belgium, Dazel highlighted their familiarity with the team. “Belgium are familiar to us as we played them last year in both finals of the Challenger Series and trained against them when they used Stellenbosch as their base before the Dubai tournament.”
As for Brazil, Dazel remains optimistic due to their recent success against the South American team. “The last time we played them, in Los Angeles, we came away with the win, so that is positive for us.”
The Springbok Women’s Sevens team’s schedule includes pool matches against Argentina and Belgium on Friday, followed by a crucial game against Brazil on Saturday.
The results from these matches will set the stage for their potential advancement to Sunday’s play-off matches, where the real test lies in securing a top-four finish and a place in the 2025 series.
With experienced players and a well-prepared strategy, the Springbok Women’s Sevens team is set to face the intensity of this crucial tournament head-on.
Their performance in Madrid will not only determine their immediate future in the HSBC SVNS series but also serve as a testament to their growth and resilience under pressure.
Play-off Pools:
Pool A: Spain, Japan, Poland, China
Pool B: Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Belgium
Springbok Women’s Sevens Pool Fixtures (live on SuperSport):
Friday, 31 May:
12:00: South Africa vs Argentina
15:06: South Africa vs Belgium
Saturday, 1 June:
13:51: South Africa vs Brazil
Photo: Women boks,X
