Windvogel and Tshiremba shine as Springbok Sevens Women stun China and Argentina
Rugby Sevens
Springbok Women's Sevens flyer Shannon-Lee Windvogel scores the first of her two tries in the 33-5 hammering of China in Nairobi on Sunday.
Image: @SpringbokWomen on X
The Springbok Women’s Sevens ran riot on the second day of the Nairobi leg of HSBC SVNS2, scoring five tries in a commanding 33–5 victory over China, before seeing off Argentina in extra-time in their final round-robin clash.
It was also a special day for youngster Shannon-Lee Windvogel. The flyer, who made her Springbok Sevens Women’s debut on Saturday, announced herself as a future star with a stunning brace of tries on either side of half-time against China.
The first underlined her power, as the 21-year-old utility back brushed off tacklers and sliced through the defence to dot down. The second showcased her blistering pace as she tore down the left wing and crossed the whitewash, leaving defenders trailing in her wake.
The all-round attacking firepower from Cecil Afrika's charges was on full display, in stark contrast to the first day when the Bok Women scored four tries in three matches.
Maria Tshiremba had opened the scoring for South Africa before Ayanda Malinga went cost to coast to extend the Blitzboks' lead to 14-0. Patience Mokone's five-pointer rounded off the try fest after Windvogel had made her mark on the HSBC SVNS.
The top-of-the-table clash against unbeaten Argentina was always going to be one of the toughest challenges for the Springbok Women, and so it proved.
A golden point was needed to separate the sides, who were deadlocked at 12-12 at full time.
If the earlier match belonged to the debutant, the thrilling final clash belonged to Tshiremba, who showed Las Yaguaretés a clean pair of heels in the first half, and crucially in sudden death extra- time, to grab the dramatic 17-12 win for the Springbok Women's Sevens.
The losing bonus point was enough to give Argentina the Nairobi tournament victory with 13 points, while the Bok Women finished second on 12. Las Yaguaretés also top the overall series table with 20 points, two ahead of South Africa, as the circuit heads to Uruguay and Brazil next month.
A top-four finish across the season will secure a place in the elite HSBC SVNS World Championship Series.