MyZA

News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff

You are here: Home / News / Sport / Springbok Women’s Sevens need to make it count

Springbok Women’s Sevens need to make it count

The Springbok Women’s Sevens are under no illusions about the realities of playing in the HSBC SVNS – they are literally taking on the world for survival, according to one of the team’s forwards, Asisipho Plaatjies.

Plaatjies will run out at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai for the first time, although she has donned the green and gold before, in Toulouse and Cape Town.

“Those were good learnings then, but once we qualified for the World Series through the two Challenger Series tournaments, the intensity just moved up so much,” the Public Administration graduate from the University of Fort Hare explained.

“Even the Africa Cup win, where we qualified for next year’s Olympic Games, made us realise that we are now amongst the elite teams in the world. That means that every match will be very competitive, but we would not have gone through the efforts to qualify and then not accept the challenges we will face.

“Our main aim is to stay on the circuit and that means constant performances over many months and tournaments. That said, it all starts here in Dubai, a place I am really excited to play. I was here last year when we played in the International Invitational tournament so I know what to expect of the conditions, but the opponents will be something else.”

A familiar visitor to Dubai, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, is in the UAE for a 10th visit, but the first in green and gold.

“I travelled here nine times with Tuks Women and will always treasure those moments, but it is quite special to come here in green and gold,” she said.

“This tournament will be challenging, but we have worked hard and prepared well back home in Stellenbosch. The challenge to get here was tough, but the real challenge will come when we face the best teams in the world. There is a synergy in the team that makes me positive about the weekend.”

The Springbok Women Sevens will face New Zealand, Fiji and Great Britain in Pool A on Saturday.

Category: Tag:

If you feel strongly about this article then feel free to send MyZA a ‘Letter to the Editor’ using the submission form below:

Letter to the Editor

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
If this is in response to an article please include that article title here or as the lead in for the first paragraph of your Letter below.

Separate tags with commas

Localise your letter by naming the city your words are about. Add relevant words describing your subject. Single comma separated words of no more than 5
Your Name(Required)
Your Name will be linked to the website below.
Your personal, business or social media web site
Choose NO to not set up a user account on MyZA. User Accounts will allow you to submit letters under your own Author Name

3 Latest Letters to the Editor:

  • Fun South African fact

    Dear Editor Fun South African fact: towns like Franschhoek and Stellenbosch are home to world-class wine farms set in stunning, scenic surroundings. Regards Aressa Smith In Response to/From: Luxury Properties Seized in New Lottery Crackdown

  • Condolences on the Passing of Lusanda Dumke

    Statement by Leander Kruger MPL – DA Buffalo City Constituency Leader: The Democratic Alliance in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality mourns the passing of Springbok Women’s rugby player and Mdantsane trailblazer, Lusanda Dumke, who lost her battle with cancer at the age of 28. South Africa has lost an exceptional athlete, a leader, and a source…

  • Rape Kits Delivered, But…

    Statement by Nicholas Gotsell MP – DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice: The DA can confirm that 2 840 rape kits arrived in Cape Town on Monday, following sustained DA oversight and pressure after multiple police stations across the Western Cape were found to be without this critical forensic evidence tool. While this delivery…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. William Webb Ellis is said to acquire caught a soccer ball and ran towards the opposition’s goal, marking the beginning of rugby.

  2. The first Test cricket captains for the English team were James Lillywhite and David Gregory. Of the two, Lillywhite was the first to play. He died in 1929, becoming the last player of the very first Test match to pass away.