Star Springbok Women’s Sevens utility back Nadine Roos feels that the first game in the 2025 Challenger Series at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday will set the tone for the rest of the series.
The South Africans are determined to prove that they belong back at the top table of sevens rugby – the HSBC SVNS Series – starting with first of two Challenger Series events on home soil this weekend and next.
The experienced, energetic 28-year-old playmaker embraced the opportunity to face different opposition, including the Rhinos, in warm-up games.
She said it gave the team the chance to try out different scenarios on attack and in defence, and to test their defensive decision-making.
“I think that’s been going well for us in terms of getting game fitness up, to see where we still need to work on things, and how we can build on our strength as a team and individuals,” she said.
“We just had to make sure that everyone is aligned in terms of the systems defensively and attacking-wise, especially the players that came from the 15s team that are still fitting in.”
The Bok Women’s Sevens face Hong Kong China (3.55pm) and Czechia (7.36pm) in their pool on Saturday, with a place in Sunday’s semi-finals on the line.
Roos feels that the SA team have all the attributes needed to succeed.
“We’re a very diversified team in terms of what each individual contributes. We have some good steppers, there’s speed, and we also have physicality in terms of decision-making. There’s experience as well,” Roos said.
“In terms that, each individual contributes positively towards the team on the field. Off the field, in terms of personalities, there’s good energy.
“Everyone wants a good vibe, and at the end of the day, we want everything to be positive in terms of environment as well. On the field, that’s definitely the attribute that each individual contributes towards the team.”
She feels confident of repeating the feat from 2023, when the Blazeboks won the Challenger series in Stellenbosch on their return to the main stage in 2024.
However, they were relegated again after one season back in the top-flight.
“We always focus on that first game, and our first game is Hong Kong China. We believe that the first game sets the tone for the rest of the tournament. So, we’re going to focus on our process and what we’re going to bring to that first game,” Roos said.
“It’s also a building process within a tournament, so we know how we want to start that game, and build on that energy and the basics and foundation of the first game, and how we’re going to go into the second game.”
For the two events in Cape Town, the four pool winners progress directly to contest the semi-finals, the second-placed teams will play for fifth to eighth place, and teams finishing third in their pools will compete for ninth to 12th position.
“The format is a lot of pressure. It’s a different format. It will be our first time playing that type of format, so it just adds a bit of pressure,” said the playmaker who can play at flyhalf or centre.
“But as experienced players, we’ll see how we can help the younger players or the first-time players experiencing a Challenger Series, just to keep them calm, just focusing on the role and responsibility they have on the field.
“I think that’s really important for us in that first game: how we set the tone and standard, and that will build within the tournament for every game.”
Challenger Pools
Pool A: South Africa, Czechia, Hong Kong China
Pool B: Argentina, Thailand, Mexico
Pool C: Belgium, Uganda, Colombia
Pool D: Poland, Kenya, Samoa