South Africa Springbok Women’s Sevens team has been relegated from the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series following a disappointing 24-0 loss to Spain in Madrid on Sunday.
Head coach Renfred Dazel acknowledged the setback but emphasized the need to regroup and focus on their upcoming Olympic debut later this year.
“We will take a week or so off to clear our heads and then start our Olympic preparations in all earnest,” Dazel said.
“As bad as it is for us losing our core status, it is exciting to go and compete as part of Team South Africa at the Paris Olympics, and we need to make the most of that special moment.”
The Bok Women’s Sevens will now have to re-qualify for the World Rugby Challenger Series via the continental route.
Reflecting on the 2024 season, Dazel admitted that inconsistency plagued the team, culminating in their crucial defeat to Spain, which cost them their core status.
“Look, we can try and find excuses like the lack of a pre-season for the squad going into the series or the availability of some players, but that is not going to solve our problem of having to qualify again,” Dazel noted.
“This is not the first time we lost our status, and I know how despondent everyone is feeling. Thanks to SA Rugby’s support of the sevens programme, we can remain competitive and qualify to play in the Challenger Series by winning the Africa Cup Sevens in September. So, there is some light at the end of the tunnel.”
The match against Spain saw the South Africans struggle under pressure, conceding four tries without mounting a significant challenge.
Spain, energized by their home crowd, scored two tries in each half. Juana Stella opened the scoring after four minutes, followed by a try from Paula Requena just before halftime, giving Spain a 10-0 lead.
Requena’s second try early in the second half extended Spain’s lead to 15-0, and despite some opportunities, South Africa’s handling errors and knock-ons prevented any comeback.
Beatriz Dominguez’s try from Spain’s own 22 sealed the victory, ensuring Spain’s continuation in the World Rugby Sevens Series next season, despite finishing one spot lower than South Africa in the overall standings for 2024.
South Africa’s performance against Spain was in stark contrast to their earlier dominant displays in the tournament. Winning three out of five encounters against Spain during the season, they faltered when it mattered most.
Their defense was frantic, they conceded numerous penalties at the breakdown, and struggled to mount effective attacks due to handling errors.
Dazel emphasized the need to identify new talent and prepare thoroughly for the Africa Cup: “We need to find the next group of young players who can take the system forward, and that is an exciting prospect. We will also need to sit down and look at our personnel for the Africa Cup and start preparing for that with enough time in hand. It was disappointing to lose like this today, especially as we lost our way in the second half again. That dogged us all season and cost us dearly today.”
Despite the disappointment, the Springbok Women’s Sevens are determined to bounce back, with the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris offering a chance for redemption and a platform to showcase their resilience and skill on the world stage.
