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South Africa Women's Seven team ready for Olympic bow

By Ian Cameron
Shona-Leah Weston and Liske Lategan of South Africa are attempting a tackle on Ian Jason of France during the women's pool B match between France and South Africa at the HSBC SVNS Singapore at the National Stadium in Singapore, on May 3, 2024. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The South Africa Women’s Sevens rugby team is set to make its inaugural appearance at the Olympic Games, with head coach Renfred Dazel highlighting the magnitude of the occasion for the team and the nation. The team is driven by the inspiration of being part of this historic moment and the opportunity to motivate future generations, according to Dazel.

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Speaking ahead of the Rugby Sevens Women’s tournament at the Stade de France, scheduled to commence on Sunday, Dazel emphasized the team’s extensive preparation and readiness. He noted that their male counterparts had instilled a belief that every opponent can be overcome, reinforcing the team’s determination and focus.

This landmark participation marks a significant achievement for the South African women’s rugby program, as they aim to make a strong impression on the Olympic stage.

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“We come well prepared, mentally and physically,” said Dazel, who was assistant coach to the Blitzbok squad that won the bronze medal in Rio in 2016.

“We had some good sessions last week in Montpellier and once we arrived in Paris, the energy levels stayed up.

“The Blitzboks’ performance in that quarter-final against New Zealand was hugely inspiring to all of us. We celebrated that as a team and realised that we can also deliver exceptional performances and looking at our pool, create a shock or two.” 

The South Africans will play Australia, Ireland and Great Britain in their pool.

“We have played against all of them during the SVNS series and had our moments,” he said. “We actually beat Great Britain in Perth, so we feel that we can make history and win our first match ever at the Olympics.” 

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The coach reflected on the history part of their first Olympics: “Yes we will be the first Springbok Women’s Sevens team to play here and previous squads who qualified, did not get that opportunity. 

“We are mindful of that and will play for those denied as well. Ultimately, we want to make South Africa and our system proud and show a pathway for future rugby athletes,” Dazel added.

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H
Hellhound 26 minutes ago
Scott Robertson reflects on the All Blacks’ Freedom Cup loss to Springboks

Razor was untouchable in a club competition that favours the AB's with no real competition. The Crusaders has been the main feeding trough for the ABs for a long time. Easier to stay strong and win against weaker club teams like Super Rugby Pacific. A great club coach doesn't make for a winning test coach. Rassie took over a Bok team that got flogged by everyone. He changed them around and created a winning team and culture. Razor took over a team that barely lost in a WC final. Massive difference between the 2 coaches and teams during transition phases. The question have to be asked...Is the problems in NZ rugby deeper than the team? Are they growing weaker due to coaching or competition? This 2 tests the AB's had it but lost it against a team that is swapping and changing continuesly. Changing that many players, no matter how good they are, you lose a lot of little things. In attack the Boks struggle to gel, they play in short bursts and currently is a team who rescue themselves through sheer power or broken play. Their mental strength is one of the biggest changes in the team. They find a way to win. They believe that they are the best but they are not letting it make them complacent. They know they are hard to beat and at any given day can lose. They are not the polished product and far from reaching their end goal. Rassie keeps shifting the goal posts. Making it harder for every player to keep their spot on the team. Fozzie was seen as the worst AB's coach, but he got them to the WC final. The NZRU would have been very happy that the AB's lost that final. What would it have looked like if they fired a coach they mocked, gave a hard time and fired long before the WC, if he won the WC? They are not good at their jobs. Just like with the Aussie board, this NZ board is failing upwards. How long before the AB's become the Wallabies? The players are trying hard, but they can do only so much. Razor is a coach of habit. He has his favourites. Is the current AB's team the best players in each position in the country? Or is there better players that don't get a look in? These players are not bad. The best though? Imagine what an Aki Bundee would have been able to do, and other players the AB's throw away for fun. Now they gain residency and play for other countries or go back to their Island nations and play for them. No matter how I look at it, NZ rugby is going backwards. I don't blame the players. NZ still produce world class players, but a lot of questions is left to answer. More than just a losing team. Razor should not have walked in as head coach. He should have been assistant to learn the ropes of international rugby. There is a vast difference between club and international rugby. Is the NZRU setting up Razor to fail?

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J
JW 55 minutes ago
All Blacks player ratings vs Springboks | The Rugby Championship

Yeah he might, I only saw the one angle where it looked cheek on cheek, and I didn't see what you're referring to today at all. Did either incident change the play SB, did they have any affect on the game?


Um, I don't think you're right in that 'fact' about foul play SB. I just sounds like the typical moaning SA fans did after Sam Cane's red in the world cup final, after there own captain had done the same or worse, taken out Frenchmen the previous game, and lost domestic titles due to their own nations offences. Don't you think it is hypocritical to talk about New Zealanders? Or is that in fact why you are trying to put Kiwi's in the same boat as others?


I would venture you've fallen into the media hole. It's easy to look at things like number of cards in isolation, for someone to cherry pick data and others to swallow it whole. I would need to do some research to see a problem developing with NZ rugby.


To me, on the surface without digging into it, they have mostly felt hard done by, so I'd suggest to anyone that they simply haven't adapted to the changing laws rather than having changed (their rugby style) themselves. I think if you did look you would find all sanctions were mitigated down to the most minimal suspensions possible. The only bad act I recall was Sonny-Bill Williams in Lions 2 with his league tackle. For him, it would just go down into the 'stupid' category.


So if you don't wont to look stupid throwing around the word 'fact', you should at least be able to back it up when you do try it ;)

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