Zintle Mpupha will captain the Springbok Women’s Sevens team at next weekend’s Cape Town Sevens tournament, while Zenay Jordaan, South Africa’s most experienced player in the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series, will pull the strings for the Imbokodo as playmaker.

Imbokodo coach Paul Delport, Mpupha and Jordaan joined forces in the Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens last year, but playing in front of their home fans at the Cape Town Stadium for the very first time will be a personal highlight for the trio and the rest of the team.

Delport will be without track convert and speedster, Alyssa Conley, who has not recovered from a foot injury in time, but the coach was pleased with his final selection.

“We have a good mix for Cape Town,” said Delport.

GOOD MIX: The SA Women's Sevens coach Paul Delport. Picture: SA Rugby.

“The senior players have enough experience and have shown an ability to contest at the highest level. The remainder of the squad have proved to be winners in Tunisia, but this is a step-up, not only physically, but also mentally.

“This is going to be a massive honour for our squad playing at home, but we acknowledge the responsibility that comes with it. Let me say this: this team will leave nothing out there.”

According to Mpupha, there is inner confidence and comfort in the squad.

%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/Imbokodo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Imbokodowill be on the biggest stage yet. Playing in a @WorldRugby7s tournament at HOME at the @CapeTown7s Please come #shareTHATmoment and who knows, you might be surprise by what they offer! pic.twitter.com/1U6m1gCloG

— Springbok Women (@WomenBoks)

“We don’t know who we are playing yet, but we know two things already – this group will play with massive heart and we will not give up,” she said.

“We realise the pace will be faster, the hits will be harder and the split-seconds will even be less. But knowing that we will be playing in our stadium, in front of our crowd, with our emblem and flag on the jersey, will give us massive energy and encouragement.

“We really hope to have a huge crowd when we play as we want to show our hearts, our guts and our talent to those who came to support us.”

The Springbok Women’s Sevens squad:

Right Mkhari, Catha Jacobs, Buhle Sonomzi, Sizo Solontsi, Christelene Steinhobel, Lusanda Dumke, Mathrin Simmers, Zenay Jordaan, Eloise Webb, Zintle Mpupha (captain), Nadine Roos, Liske Lategan, Meghan Phillips.

African News Agency