Springbok Women’s Sevens secure thrilling victory over Argentina

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.

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. 

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!

Roos missed the vital conversion to leave SA trailing 14-12 with just over a minute remaining in the match.

The South Africans managed to wrestle back control and made a dramatic late push after the hooter had sounded, aided by a mounting penalty count for the Argentinians.

Roos was instrumental in setting Fortuin up for the winner, as she barged over in the corner despite the attentions of an Argentinian defender.