The Springbok Women's Sevens team delivered a strong performance on the first day of the Rugby Africa Women's Sevens Olympic Qualifier in Tunisa, winning all three their Pool A matches on Saturday.
They will now face Zambia in the semi-finals at 11h44 (SA time) on Sunday with only two wins between them and a plane ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Kenya and Uganda will meet in the other semifinal.
The South Africans outplayed Zimbabwe 26-5, Uganda 19-0 and Tunisia 27-7 in Monastir, with both tries conceded coming from intercepts by their opponents. Nadine Roos was the team's leading points' scorer, bagging 16 against Zimbabwe, nine against Uganda and 12 against Tunisia.
The Springbok Women's Sevens started their opening match slowly, with Liske Lategan being yellow carded three minutes into their match against Zimbabwe. Roos then took control of matters with two tries, before Lategan added to the scoresheet. Ayanda Malinga also scored after a strong run.
Rights Mkhari proved instrumental in the win over Uganda, with the co-captain scoring the opening try and having a hand in another. Marlize de Bruyn and Roos also scored, with De Bruyn's try coming after a good run by debutant, Maria Tshiremba.
Eloise Webb scored first in their final pool match against Tunisia, before Mkhari raced in from distance for the second. Webb and Roos also added to the scoresheet before the final whistle confirmed a successful day for the South Africans.
SA scorers:
South Africa 26 (5), Zimbabwe 5 (0)
SA - Tries: Nadine Roos (2), Liske Lategan, Ayanda Malinga. Conversions: Roos (3).
South Africa 19 (7), Uganda 0 (0)
SA - Tries: Rights Mkhari, Marlize de Bruyn, Nadine Roos. Conversions: Roos (2)
South Africa 27 (15), Tunisia 7 (7)
SA - Tries: Eloise Webb (2), Rights Mkhari, Nadine Roos (2). Conversion Roos.