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Nine players capped at XVs in Springboks' Challenger Series squad

Libbie Janse van Rensburg in action at the XVs World Cup last October (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Springboks coach Renfred Dazel has included just one uncapped sevens player – XVs out-half Libbie Janse van Rensburg – in an experienced women’s squad for this weekend’s opening leg of the 2023 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series at Markotter Stadium in Stellenbosch.

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The two-weekend series opens this Thursday with South Africa taking on the Czechs and Mexico before completing their pool on Friday against Madagascar, and the inclusion of van Rensburg means that nine of the 13-strong squad on duty have Test match experience in XVs.

While van Rensburg, who earned her 12th Test cap earlier this month when playing for South Africa versus Spain, has yet to play in the World Series, she has international sevens experience having played for an SA Select squad when they toured France in 2016, a trip that coincidentally had Dazel coaching in his first stint with the national side.

Video Spacer

Black Fern Stacey Fluhler on winning gold at the World Sevens Series in Hong Kong

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Black Fern Stacey Fluhler on winning gold at the World Sevens Series in Hong Kong

Dazel has included six players from the squad that last ran out for the Springboks at the HSBC Cape Town Sevens in December – Rights Mkhari, Kemisetso Baloyi, Marlize de Bruin, Nadine Roos, Simamkele Namba and Liske Lategan.

“I’m really happy with the squad and am going into this Challenger Series knowing that we prepared well,” said Dazel. “The big difference between this squad and the one that played in Cape Town last December is the amount of preparation we had for this. Last time around, we had a week to prepare for the Dubai Invitational, which was followed a week later by the Cape Town tournament.

“We had now had a good preparation and the players really worked hard to put themselves in the best position possible for this series. The fact that we could also have access to Nadine, Libbie and Jakkie (Cilliers) to add depth to our squad is much appreciated. We had a good run and will approach this weekend’s tournament with the knowledge that we are as well prepared as we can be.”

SPRINGBOKS: 1. Rights Mkhari, 2. Sizophila Solontsi, 3. Zintle Mpupha (co-captain), 4. Simamkele Namba, 5. Liske Lategan, 6. Kemisetso Baloyi, 7. Mathrin Simmers (co-captain), 8. Nadine Roos, 9. Eloise Webb, 10. Marlize de Bruin, 11. Ayanda Malinga, 12. Zandile Masuku, 13. Libbie Janse van Rensburg.

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World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series women’s pools:
A: Poland, Colombia, Hong Kong China, Paraguay;
B: South Africa, Madagascar, Mexico, Czechia;
C: China, Belgium, Papua New Guinea, Thailand.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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