Rugby World Cup Sevens result: Springbok Women’s side beaten by Japan

The Springbok Women’s Sevens team came within inches of upsetting Japan in their second Rugby World Cup Sevens game in Cape Town on Saturday, in the end going down by 14-12 in a clash they could have won.

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Both teams scored two tries each in their Challenge quarter-final, but Japan’s extra conversion was enough to break the SA women’s hearts.

It was a much-improved performance by the Springbok Women’s Sevens, but their failure to win proper first phase possession and hold onto the ball, and defensive lapses in the wide channels, ended up costly.

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The South Africans started the game in the best possible way, scoring a try after a mistake by Japan with the kick-off.

Zintle Mpupha cleverly grubbered behind the Japanese defensive line, hacked it ahead again and the ball bounced into the hands of Nadine Roos.

Unfortunately, a missed tackle a few minutes later led to a try for Japan, by Chiharu Nakamura, and the conversion put them in the lead by 7-5.

But Roos wasn’t done yet and a minute before the break, a superb kick ahead by her – which started from a penalty just outside their own 22 – led to SA’s second try, by Sizophila Solontsi, under the uprights.

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Roos added the extras and the host nation went into the break leading by 12-7.

Japan started the second half with a try when they found space out wide, and Wakaba Hara dotted down. Yume Okuroda had no issues with the conversion, which put her team back in the lead, 14-12.

Sevens heartbreak for Springbok Women’s side

The Springbok Women’s Sevens then got their hands back on the ball and gradually worked their way upfield, only to lose possession at crucial stages on attack, the last of which came with time up on the clock and the women in green hot on the attack, only five metres from the Japanese tryline.

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Roos said it was disappointing to lose their second game in Cape Town on the weekend: “We really looked to win this game but we made some unfortunate errors. We didn’t keep the ball when we had to and we didn’t stick to our processes the whole time, and that’s the result you get when that happens.”

On a nerve-racking second half, during which the South Africans came very close to scoring on a few occasions, Roos said: “You get quite tense when you see time running out on the clock but you try to stay calm and composed. Sometimes the pressure gets to you and, at the end of the day, I think that’s what happened to us.”

Roos was very proud of her own performance though and said: “It’s always an honour to play in the Springbok jersey, I always want to present the country with pride and passion.”

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SCORERS:

Springbok Women’s Sevens

Tries: Nadine Roos, Sizophila Solontsi

Conversion: Roos

Japan

Tries: Chiharu Nakamura, Wakaba Hara

Conversions: Yume Okuroda (2)