Hot and cold for Bok Women Sevens in Singapore

The Springbok Women's Sevens team started the HSBC SVNS Singapore on a brilliant note with a last-gasp victory over USA in their pool opener, but they could not replicate that against France later on Friday.

Renfred Dazel's team showed real grit and determination to win their opening match by 14-12 with a converted try after the hooter against the fourth-ranked USA, but France had too much firepower and won by 49-0.

In the first match, the USA opened the scoring with a converted try by Alev Kelter to take a 7-0 lead, but they made the mistake of giving Nadine Roos a sniff, and the experienced playmaker didn't need a second invitation as she sped away from the base of a scrum to score under the uprights.

Roos converted her own try and the teams took a break with the scores tied at 7-7.

The USA then took the lead again through their second try, by Kaylen Thomas, a few minute from the end, but the Bok Women knuckled down and refused to allow their opponents to open a bigger gap on the scoreboard.

With the Americans leading by 12-7 but with a player in the sin-bin, South Africa had one final chance with an attacking scrum. Mathrin Simmers got clean ball and fed a storming Simamkele Namba, who fended off one defender before she went over next to the posts.

Roos made no mistake with the conversion and Renfred Dazel's team could celebrate a famous victory.

Unfortunately, they could not replicate that against the third-ranked French team, who led by 28-0 and won by 49-0 as they scored seven tries in the process.

"We played very well in our first game, but very poor against France and that was not up to our standards," said Cecil Africa, the team's assistant coach.

"France dominated us physically at the breakdowns and carrying the ball in contact, so we'll have to make a massive step-up in that regard - as players and coaches. We will have to take a hard look at ourselves to see what we can do to prepare the ladies so that they can improve."

Afrika said the team showed against the USA what they are capable of.

"We were quite clinical and they really executed the plan to a tee," he said. 

"We gained a lot of confidence from that game, but maybe we were a bit complacent against France, when we really had to work hard to improve. I think we let the jersey down in the second game.

"Hopefully we can reset and come back tomorrow with a big effort against Japan. The message is simple - we have to beat them to make sure we play in the quarter-finals, and take some confidence from this tournament."

The Bok Women's final pool game is against Japan at 05h00 (SA time) on Saturday morning.

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