Webb: Bok Women's Sevens still in control of their destiny ahead of SVNS finale

The Bok Women head into the final tournament of the season in Bordeaux this weekend knowing they need a strong performance to secure core status for 2027, but they face a challenging task with pool matches against France, New Zealand and Argentina lying in wait.

30-year-old utility back Webb has been thrust into a key role during a difficult campaign marked by injuries to several senior players.

Webb had shifted her focus away from sevens after missing out on selection for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

After returning to fifteens, she became a regular under Springbok Women's coach Swys de Bruin, while also impressing for the Sanlam Boland Dames in domestic competition.

But she was called back into the sevens setup amid the squad's injury crisis and has since played a leading role as South Africa push to secure their place in the 2027 SVNS core group.

"The call to join the squad for Hong Kong was unexpected and my immediate instinct was to opt out, not only because of what happened in 2024 and Olympic rejection, but also because I know how taxing sevens is on the body," said Webb from Bordeaux, where the Bok Women's Sevens will face France, New Zealand and Argentina in pool play this weekend.

"I was training for a season of fifteens and to suddenly be called into a sevens regime was not what I anticipated or prepared for. The load on your body is just so much different, and we had just finished the Super League, which was demanding as well."

But love for country prevailed and she joined the squad in the week they departed for Hong Kong.

"I knew how tough it was going to be and how much strain I was going to take, mentally and physically, but playing for your country remains the biggest honour and service," Webb said.

Last weekend in Spain, a much more settled Springbok Women's Sevens team delivered very competitive performances against both eventual finalists, Australia and the USA, and seventh-placed Fiji, before beating Argentina and Brazil in their final two matches to finish ninth overall to move into 10th spot on the standings.

They are quietly confident for a good performance in France after the Spain experience: "For this trip we were much better prepared than Hong Kong and I was much better prepared. As a team, we really played for each other and for me those bad memories of not being wanted washed away.

"Yes, we made mistakes and at times played against ourselves, but there is this thing in our game â- when we fight the odds together, it is beautiful," Webb added.

That should manifest again in Bordeaux, where they need a big performance and some luck to finish in the top eight to regain core status for next season.

"New Zealand only lost twice in seven tournaments I think and France are playing in front of their home crowd, so tomorrow will be a massive challenge," Webb said.

"We can only control our own output and as such, our destiny. We do not have easy games and a tough pool, but our performances will be reflective our ambitions. We want to be back on the circuit and will leave nothing out there. Nothing."

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