Springbok Women's Sevens stumble in Vancouver

Like the first day - which delivered defeats to Ireland and New Zealand in their Pool A fixtures - the second day was also mixed bag, with the inability to close out scoring opportunities the main issue.

Defeats to Brazil and Japan were the consequence.

The Bok Women had numerous scoring opportunities in their final pool match against Brazil but took few and that cost them in a 17-12 defeat. Two first-half tries by the Brazilians helped them to a 10-0 lead the break and when they scored two minutes into the second half, it looked like a done deal.

But two well-taken Nadine Roos tries cut into that lead, with one more score needed to draw the game, but sadly they run out of time. The bonus point earned was not enough to save them from a fourth-place finish in the pool.

The recurring theme of fading in the second half then returned against Japan in the ninth-place play-off match at BC Place where the South Africans conceded 24 unanswered points in the closing stages.

Another try by Roos handed her team a 5-0 lead after four minutes, but Japan scored a minute later to equal matters. The second half turned into a one-sided affair for the team in red and white and they scored three more tries to race away to a comfortable win.

The Springbok Women's Sevens next face Great Britain in the 11th-place playoff on Sunday evening. The opening match on the final day of action at BC Place starts at 20h15 (SA time).

Scorers:

SA 12 (0), Brazil 17
SA - Tries: Nadine Roos (2). Conversion: Roos.
Brazil – Tries: Bianca Silva, Thalita Costa, Rafaela Zanellato. Conversion: Raquel Kochhann.

South Africa 5 (5), Japan 24 (5)
SA - Try: Nadine Roos.
Japan - Tries: Chiaki Seagusa, Wakaba Hara, Marin Kajiki, Mio Yamanaka. Conversions: Hanoko Utsami, Michiyo Suda.

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