The Springbok Women’s Sevens team were crowned champions of the first World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series tournament in a cold and wet Stellenbosch on Saturday.
Victory over Belgium in the final means the South Africans finished the tournament unbeaten after they booked their place in the final with a 5-0 win over China earlier on Saturday at the Markotter Stadium.
In the final, early mistakes were costly for the host nation as the Belgians raced to a 10-0 lead after tries from Nele Pien and Emilie Musch in the first four minutes.
Ayanda Malinga pulled one back for South Africa with a try shortly before the break to make it 10-5.
The second half belonged to the Bok Women though as they grew in confidence, despite losing a player to a yellow card. They defended well, played most of the half in Belgium’s territory and pounced on mistakes by their opponents.
Nadine Roos put them ahead with a converted try from a sniping run off the back of an attacking scrum in the 12th minute, and two minutes later Marlize de Bruin’s five-pointer, from a turnover, all but sealed the win.
In their semi-final early on Saturday, the South Africans edged China by 5-0, while the Belgium side outplayed Poland in the other semi-final.
Scorers:
South Africa 17 (5) – Tries: Ayanda Malinga, Nadine Roos, Marlize de Bruin. Conversion: Libbie Janse van Rensburg.
Belgium 10 (10) – Tries: Nele Pien, Emilie Musch.
Photo: @WomenBoks/Twitter