Bok Women’s SVNS promotion hopes extinguished in Bordeaux

Springbok Women’s Sevens flyers Patience Mokone (left) and Maria Tshiremba had little opporunity to shine in a frustrating pool campiagn in Bordeaux at the weekend that ended any hopes of restoring their core status. South Africa arrived at the final round of theSVNS World Championship in 10th place, needing a deep run at the Bordeaux SVNS – and realistically a place in the Cup quarter-finals with other results going their way – to keep alive their chances of finishing among the top eight teams that will contest next season’s SVNS 1 Series. Their campaign began with a promising display against hosts France.

After weathering early pressure and conceding the opening try to Lou Noel, the Bok Women responded through a Maria Tshiremba try.France, however, seized control from there, scoring three unanswered tries to secure a 22-7 victory. After weathering early pressure and conceding the opening try to Lou Noel, the Bok Women responded through a Maria Tshiremba try. France, however, seized control from there, scoring three unanswered tries to secure a 22-7 victory.

The Black Ferns Sevens crossed within the opening 20 seconds and never looked back, racing into a 28-0 half-time lead before completing a dominant 42-0 victory. Argentina hit back before the break to level matters and took control after half-time, crossing for two further tries to secure a 17-5 victory. Instead of challenging for a place among the elite, the Springbok Women were left to contest the minor placings while reflecting on what might have been on the final stop of the World Championship campaign.Despite showing flashes of promise in Bordeaux, the Springbok Women were ultimately unable to produce the results required against some of the world’s leading sevens nations.

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Instead of challenging for a place among the elite, the Springbok Women were left to contest the minor placings while reflecting on what might have been on the final stop of the World Championship campaign. Despite showing flashes of promise in Bordeaux, the Springbok Women were ultimately unable to produce the results required against some of the world’s leading sevens nations.

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