Sunday’s Women’s Rugby World Cup opener between South Africa and Brazil at Franklin’s Garden in Northampton may be the first test between the two nations, but for Springbok Women utility back Nadine Roos, some of her opponents will not be unfamiliar.
Alongside her teammates Ayanda Malinga, Eloise Webb, Zintle Mpupha and Sizophila Solontsi, Roos has played Brazil four times in the 2024 HSBC SVNS series.
Unfortunately, the South Americans were victorious in three of those encounters, despite brave efforts from especially Roos, who scored some spectacular tries against the team in yellow.
This time, however, playing in a different code, Roos said she is determined that a different result will follow as the Bok Women went through their paces at their training base in Kettering, a short drive from Sunday’s match venue.
“Those matches were very close with one score or try that made the difference, it was only in one of those defeats where we were outplayed,” said Roos.
“So yes, I definitely believe we can give it back to them this time, different code or not. Rugby remains rugby and we want to win when we play for our country, especially at a Rugby World Cup.”
Roos said the fact that almost 80 per cent of their sevens regulars are in the Brazilian RWC squad prove their worth.
“Those speedsters are really fast and adding to that, their playmakers have the ability to provide them ball in space,” she said.
“If we allow that on Sunday, we will be in trouble. I told my teammates that we need to kill their time and space on the ball. If we get shoulders on bodies and take the space away, they will not be as effective.”
The Bok utility back has now settled in a scrumhalf role and while she might not have as much leeway as in the sevens code – where she has scored a number of long-range individual tries – Roos still backs herself to give it a go.
“I would love scoring against them in fifteens as well,” she said. “I scored some good tries against them in sevens and it will be nice to repeat that on Sunday.
“Having said that, some those sevens tries came thanks to my teammates as well, and I would need their help again. It will have to be a team effort from us on Sunday.”
The squad will train with Japan on Wednesday as they step up the intensity for the weekend.
The Springbok Women’s match-23 will be announced on Friday and all 32 players are currently available for selection.