But close to that, was the way the South African team fought for one another and their first victory at their first Olympic Games.
That’s the view of Nadine Roos, the South African Sevens team’s most influential player at the 2024 Paris Olympics, after they beat Fiji 21-15 in their last match at the Stade de France. The South African women’s sevens rugby team ended their maiden Olympic Games in 11th place.
After four successive losses in Pool B, the South Africans recorded their first victory on Wednesday in the 11th and 12th place play-off match. And coach Renfred Dazel was naturally delighted with his charges.
“For us it was very important because the girls said they don’t want to finish last in this tournament just to get to play in the Olympics is big, I think. We were star struck the first day and we got two big losses against Ireland and Australia. Yesterday the girls were amazing, game management in both games the last minute it could have been a different story but I am so proud of them for not giving up. It could easily be the other way well done to the girls for putting their bodies on the line after a long 11-month season and I think they did really well under the circumstances.”
Roos scored two tries and three conversions to finish the match with a personal contribution of 16 points. She ended the tournament as South Africa’s top points scorer and most influential player.
“Coming on the third day that’s how we worked for each other, that’s how we trained for that third day. Bodies are sore you know you are tired you know mentally it’s been tough because we lost four games now. We just have to put it through experiencing a crowd like this is unbelievable playing in a stadium like the Stade France. It’s a massive place where supporters come and support the 15s, just seeing the support for the sevens especially for women it also shows the growth of women’s rugby,” says Roos.
Meanwhile, Rio Olympic Games bronze medalist, Henri Schoeman, finished in 20th place in the men’s triathlon in Paris on Wednesday. Schoeman did well in the swimming leg, completing it in second place. He was also in contention in the cycling leg, at one stage even leading the pack alongside compatriot Jamie Riddle.
But neither athlete had the legs to compete in the final leg, the 10 000 meters run with Schoeman securing 20th place, more than 2 minutes behind the winner Alex Yee of Great Britain. Riddle had to settle for 25th place.
In the women’s triathlon, Vicky van der Merwe placed 46th out of a field of 51 competitors who completed the event. She reached the finish line 10 minutes and 21 second after the winner, local favourite Cassandre Beaugrand, whose winning time was one hour, 54 minutes and 55 seconds.
--SABC--
