South Africa’s Springbok Women completed an immaculate Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens Cup campaign on Sunday, thrashing Kenya 22-0 in the final to clinch the title without conceding a single point across the tournament.
The defending champions, who also qualified for January’s eight-team Division Three Challenger in Dubai, overwhelmed Ghana 48-0 in the quarter-finals and Madagascar 29-0 in the semis earlier in the day. Kenya had earned their final spot by outplaying Uganda.
The decider began cagily. Kenya threatened with quick-tap penalties after South Africa infringed at breakdowns, but the Lionesses could not convert pressure into points. Shiniqwa Lamprecht broke the deadlock after five minutes, darting through from a set piece for a try converted by Nadine Roos to lead 7-0 at the interval.
South Africa accelerated after the restart. Simamkele Namba finished a multi-phase move to make it 12-0, before wing Patience Mokone stepped inside her marker in a sweeping backline play. Roos then capped the scoring with a try from a rapid penalty tap, adding the conversion for a 22-point margin.
Earlier, Maria Tshiremba terrorised Ghana with a first-half hat-trick, while Lamprecht grabbed a brace in a 29-0 halftime lead. Ayanda Malinga added two second-half tries alongside Leigh Fortuin. Against Madagascar, Namba’s double set a 17-0 platform, with Zintle Mpupha and Liske Lategan sealing the rout.
The shutout run underscores South Africa’s dominance in African women’s sevens and bolsters their global ambitions. Kenya, despite home support, could not breach a defence that proved impenetrable throughout the weekend. The Dubai Challenger now awaits the flawless Bok Women.
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