The Springbok Women's Sevens’ inability to remain composed in pressure moments proved to be their biggest drawback in a season where they claimed two tournament titles and scored some impressive wins.
That is the view of the team’s head coach, Renfred Dazel, after they arrived back in South Africa on Tuesday evening following two long-haul flights from Los Angeles.
South Africa progressed to the playoffs from their pool in LA, but came up short against Kenya, which means they will have to take the continental route to qualify for the HSBC SVNS second division next season.
“We did have the opportunity to qualify, but soft moments cost us dearly,” said Dazel.
“Two key players were ruled out of the final match against Kenya in Los Angeles due to injury, but the red card conceded with two minutes left was just a bridge too far.
“In fact, in all three matches we lost to Kenya this year, soft moments proved the difference.”
The season started well enough, ironically with a win over Kenya in the final of their first tournament. The Bok Women won the Rugby Africa Women's Sevens title in Ghana, placed third and second in the first two World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger Series tournaments at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, before winning the third in Krakow, Poland.
Good wins over Ireland and Argentina at the HSBC SVNS Play-off tournament in Los Angeles placed them on the brink of qualification to the second tier of the newly-announced sevens series, but the late try conceded against Kenya in their final match cost them the game and tournament spot.
“We took the long way around to Los Angeles, and it seems we will have to do the same next season, having to qualify through regional tournaments and then a once-off Challenger event,” said Dazel.
“We can do it again, I am confident of that, and if we make it onto the second-tier circuit, we can build from there.
“The tournaments played this year allowed us to build some depth, and we introduced players with a bright future in the game and that will help us in the next cycle.
“I would like to thank all stakeholders involved with our squad this year. Unfortunately, we could not progress in Los Angeles, but there is still another opportunity to get to the new series and we will start planning for that already.”