The Springbok Women's Sevens learnt some valuable lessons on the opening day of the HSBC SVNS Cape Town at DHL Stadium on Saturday as they lost all three their pool games, against France, Canada and the USA.
Unfortunately the South Africans failed to replicate their strong start from last weekend in Dubai, with the experience of their opponents paving the way to big defeats for the host team, while their coaching team would not have been happy with the high number of missed tackles.
The Bok Women also missed a number of experienced players who are out due to injury, with their calmness under pressure and decision making lacking on a day when it was desperately needed.
They will now face Japan at 09h22 in the ninth-place semi-final on Sunday morning. The match will be played on the second field, across the road from DHL Stadium at Hamilton's Rugby Football Club.
Springbok Women's Sevens head coach Renfred Dazel said the day's effort was not what they had anticipated.
"We started so well, leading France at halftime of our first game," said Dazel.
"Then we lost our way in the second half and that continued against Canada. I was hoping for us to be more clinical in the match against USA, but we gave away possession too easily in that game."
Scorers:
Springbok Women's Sevens 7 (7) France 29 (5)
Bok Women's Sevens - Try: Ayanda Malinga. Conversion: Nadine Roos.
France - Tries: Carla Neisen, Chloe Jacquet, Chloe Pelle, Anne-Cecile Ciofani, Joanna Grisez. Conversions: Caroline Drouin, Yolaine Yengo.
Springbok Women's Sevens 0 Canada 40 (26)
Canada - Tries: Krissy Scurfield, Olivia Apps, Alysha Corrigan, Charity Williams, Asia Hogan-Rochester, Shalaya Valenzuela. Conversions: Chloe Daniels (4), Hogan-Rochester.
Springbok Women's Sevens 0 USA 34 (24)
USA - Tries: Ilona Maher, Alex Sedrick (2), Naya Tapper, Jaz Gray, Cheta Emba. Conversions: Kayla Canett, Nicole Heavirland.