27 August 2014
The Springbok Women’s Sevens team has been drawn to face France, China and Mexico in their pool matches at the IRB Women’s World Sevens Qualifier in Hong Kong next month, the International Rugby Board announced on Tuesday.
South Africa is among the 12 countries going head-to-head at the Shek Kip Mei Stadium on 12 and 13 September for the four places up for grabs in the core group of the 2014/2015 IRB Women’s Sevens World Series.
Core teams
New Zealand, Australia, Russia, England, Spain, the USA and Canada have already secured their places in the tournament, while Japan, China, Kenya, Brazil, Fiji, Mexico, Hong Kong, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Argentina and South Africa will battle it out for the last four core team places.
The top four teams at the conclusion of the 2014/2015 World Series will qualify automatically for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Optimistic
Springbok Women’s Sevens coach Renfred Dazel was optimistic on Tuesday that his team could qualify for the World Series, but he expected them to be tested physically and mentally in Hong Kong.
“Every team will enter the competition with the same goal and that is to qualify for the World Series, with an eye on having a shot at Olympic qualification, so we have to approach each match with the same determined attitude,” Dazel stated.
“We faced France in the Amsterdam World Sevens Series leg in May and suffered a 0-26 defeat and they beat us 19-5 in the Hong Kong Invitational in March, so we know we are in for a tough start to the series.
“We have also seen China and Mexico in action and they have players with good skills and speed, so we will certainly not write them off.”
Training camp
Dazel, however, said if his team was able to maintain the high tempo of their training sessions throughout their two-week training camp in Stellenbosch and replicate that form on the field in the tournament, they could achieve their goal.
“I have been impressed with the players’ focus and the intensity of our training sessions on the first two days of the camp,” he said. “This is exactly what I expect from the players in Hong Kong.
“We all realise the importance of progressing to the semi-finals of the tournament and one can sense that in the players’ attitude and work ethic. They know they will have to be at their best to achieve it.”
In Pool B, Japan, Fiji, Argentina and Fiji will do battle, while Pool C features Hong Kong, Brazil, the Netherlands and Portugal.
2014/15 IRB Women’s Sevens World Series
The 2014/15 IRB Women’s Sevens World Series will feature six rounds, beginning on 4 and 5 December in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
Sao Paulo, Brazil, will be the venue for round two of the action on 7 and 8 February, with the third round taking place in Atlanta, the USA, on 14 and 15 March.
The action moves north of the border to Langford in British Columbia. Canada, for round four on 18 and 19 April, then crosses the Atlantic Ocean for the fifth round in London, the United Kingdom, on 15 and 16 May.
The World Series concludes in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on 22 and 23 May.
SAinfo reporter