The 12 players in the Springbok Women’s Sevens squad are very aware of the massive responsibility that awaits them in Dubai this weekend, and they will need no motivation to go and execute the task at hand.
That is the view of team captain Nadine Roos, as the South African side contest HSBC SVNS 3 at the Sevens Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, a tournament where success will open more doors for the SA women.
The two finalists in Dubai on Sunday will qualify for HSBC SVNS 2, to be played over three tournaments later in the season, and Roos said they are not going to shy away from this challenge.
“The biggest pressure is, of course, qualifying for the World Series,” said Roos.
“This is not only important for sustaining the current sevens programme, but also for shaping the future of the programme in South Africa. It’s about more than just qualifying – it’s about building a structure that ensures long-term success.”
South Africa face Mexico, Czechia, and Thailand in Pool A on Saturday, while Argentina, Colombia, Poland and Samoa will contest Pool B.
Roos said they are well prepared: “Looking at the squad, it is similar to the one that competed in the Africa Cup, where we went undefeated in a must-win environment. We are aware of the pressure we faced during that tournament, so we are prepared to absorb whatever pressure comes our way this time.”
The experienced playmaker feels that a good start will kick them off in the right way.
“We are a team that flows well; we know exactly what is expected of us and we have a job to execute,” said Roos.
“As a group, we have set our goals, and the ultimate objective is to win the tournament. However, we are very process-driven, so our immediate focus is on the opening match against Mexico. We want to set a high standard in that first game.”
They respect all their opponents but must focus on Mexico first, she said: “From there, our focus will shift to each subsequent match. We intend to treat every game as a final because we understand the stakes and what is required to reach the championship match.”
The Sevens will not be unfamiliar to the South Africans, with all of the players having participated in tournaments at the United Arab Emirates venue.
“We all have experience of either playing there during the World Series or playing in the invitational tournaments that run alongside it, so we’re very familiar with the surfaces there, the pitch set-ups and the weather,” said Roos.
“An added bonus for us is the fact that there are a lot of South Africans in that region, so hopefully they will come out and support the team and the ladies again. That will be a huge boost for us.”