Germany's national women's sevens rugby team ended Delta Drone Tuks's incredible unbeaten streak on Saturday by beating them 27-12 in the München Oktoberfest-final.
It was the first time in three years that any team has managed to beat Tuks in München. Still, the team has got nothing to be ashamed of as they started their campaign where they left off last year. That is scoring try after try.
Tuks outplayed the British Army's team in their first game to win 45-0. In the second game against Freiburg, the score was 59-0. During the quarterfinal clash, Tuks thrashed Stutsan 73-0.
At that stage, it meant that since 2017 that Tuks had won 13 games on the trot without conceding a point.
Riaan van der Merwe (Delta Drone Tuks head coach) predicted that his team will be in for a real challenge if they get to play the Tabisuro Angels (a combined Scandanavian squad).
The two teams clashed during last year's final. Tuks ran out being the winners scoring eight tries. This time around the Angels meant business. Tuks were made to work for each of their four tries. The Scandanavians also had the distinction of being the first team to cross Tuks's try line. The final score was 28-12.
Van der Merwe admits to Germany being the better team in the final.
The former French national sevens player and captain, Johanna Barde, who is now playing for Tuks received the award as player of the tournament. She had hoped to further her physiotherapy studies at Tuks, but unfortunately, she could not do so. Still, she considers wearing the "Coveted Striped-jersey" as a huge honour. She scored seven tries for Tuks.
Libbie Janse van Rensburg (captain) was also outstanding. She scored ten tries and hardly missed any conversions.
Van der Merwe singled Megan Phillips also out as being outstanding. She scored 11 tries; however, that was not what impressed Van der Merwe. Phillips has become absolutely fearless on defence. During the final, she executed tackle after tackle.
Kemi Baloyi who only recently recovered from an injury she sustained playing for the Bulls impressed with her work rate throughout the tournament. Van der Merwe said she was only substituted in the final when she literally could not run another step.
This weekend in Johannesburg the Delta Drone Tuks-team will be in action during the USSA Tournament.
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