#TuksRugby: Roos has done the job for the Springboks now she wants to help Tuks win

Posted on May 21, 2019

Two weeks ago Nadine Roos was instrumental in helping the Springboks women's sevens rugby team win two tournaments in France, this weekend her challenge is to help Tuks win in Spain.

The Delta Drone TuksWomensRugby 7s will be competing in the Benidorm Tournament in Costa Blanca. It is going to be quite a tough tournament as the national teams of France, Poland, Finland and Belgium are also competing.

Roos scored 20 tries during the Stanislas as well as Centrales Sevens Tournaments. Her fleet footedness let to her getting the best player award at both tournaments. For her, however, playing rugby will never be about personal achievements.

"It does not matter whether I play for the Springboks or Tuks there is only one thing that matters that is to play for the 'jersey' to the best of my ability. 

 "I fully realise I am not the first nor will be I the last player to represent these teams. Both have got a proud legacy. My only goal when I take to the field is to do justice to it. In my small way, I will always strive to leave the 'jersey' in a better place for the players to come."

Roos started out playing at wing, but since she started playing for the Springboks Paul Delport (coach) has decided that she adds more value to the team playing at number 10 or 12. 

"I enjoy doing so as when you play as 'sweeper' you are the playmaker. One of our coaches favourites sayings is that 'when the job is done sent the ball'. My job is basically to try and catch the opposition off-guard, create a gap, use my speed to get us closer to the try line and then pass the ball to a teammate. It is exciting.

"I don't actually mind which position I get to play. During the tournaments in France Paul (Delport) experimented quite a bit trying to see what combinations are working.  At one stage, I was even playing at hooker. It is essential that we get to find out which combinations work best before the African Cup Tournament in Tunisia as it might be the only chance we get to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games."

The Tuks seven's team was off to a bad start to their international campaign when their captain, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, got injured quite early on during the  Centrales Sevens Tournament in France. She is the team's decisionmaker. On a good day, she is worth ten points in any day.

During the Centrales and Stanislas Tournaments Tuks managed to win all their pool games but unfortunately got unstuck during the playoffs.

With Janse van Rensburg having recovered teaming up with Roos and Meghan Phillips in the backline Riaan van der Merwe (coach) is quite confident that Tuks could cause a surprise in Spain. 

 

- Author Wilhelm de Swardt

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