Patience pays off for try-scoring machine Mokone with Bok Women’s Sevens bow

Bulls Daisies flyer Patience Mokone was rewarded for her try-scoring feats at the union with a maiden call-up to the Springbok Women’s Sevens squad for this weekend’s World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger tournament in Krakow, Poland.

The 23-year-old winger finished the Women’s Premier Division as the leading try scorer as the Daisies stormed to a third title in a row. She is one of two uncapped players in coach Renfred Dazel’s squad for the crucial tournament, the other being Vianca Boer.

Mokone admitted that she was excited and nervous at the same time, having not played in the shorter format since age-group level.

“It’s an exciting opportunity but I’m a bit nervous because it’s going to be my first sevens game, my first sevens tournament,” she told Independent Media Sport.

“I think I really worked hard this season. I think I’m improving with every season because last year was good and this season better and I think it’s just reward for my hard work.”

She promised to bring "discipline, hard work and the speed" to her new role. 

"As much as I'm excited to play, I still feel a huge responsibility to carry the provincial team and now I have a bigger responsibility, which is to represent the nation."

The 23-year-old winger earlier told the Bulls website after a call-up to a Springbok training camp that that she had always believed that she would become a Springbok, on the sevens circuit or in the XVs game.

“I am from Soshanguve, a rough environment to grow up in. We do not see a lot of rugby players or role models coming out of my hood, and those two things have been my constant motivation because I believe that no one is limited by the environment they come from,” she said.

With her sevens call-up, the winger who lists here speed as her greatest asset, can take a major stride forward in her ambition to "motivate the next child from Sosha to chase their dream".

South Africa are currently second on the Challenger Series log, with the top four sides after the tournament at Henryk Reyman’s Municipal Stadium qualifying to travel to Los Angeles, where they will compete with the bottom four teams on the current HSBC SVNS standings for core status next season.

With her line-breaking ability, Mokone adds a cutting edge to the South African side that was lacking in some of the tighter contests earlier in the series. She is also strong defensively, a trait that will serve her well in the shorter format. 

Fellow debutant Boer has been a squad member since the start of the current season.

There is also a return to action for Kyla de Vries and Zandile Masuku following their successful recovery from injury, while the remaining eight players were all part of the squad that played in the opening two tournaments of the Series in Cape Town early last month.

Three members of that squad, Kayla Swarts, Felicia Jacobs, and Leigh Fortuin, have been ruled out due to injury, while Alicia Willemse has been called up for the Springbok Women’s tour to France and Spain in the coming weeks.

Nadine Roos, Zintle Mpupha and Ayanda Malinga will join the Springbok Women on their tour after completing their sevens duties in Poland.

“We are in a good position, but cannot take anything for granted,” coach Dazel said after the squad announcement. “The squad is a good one. I am happy for Patience, who has shown excellent form this season, and Vianca, who gets her chance after some injury issues earlier in the year.”

The Springbok Women’s Sevens squad: Rights Mkhari, Zandile Masuku, Kemisetso Baloyi, Kyla de Vries, Zintle Mpupha, Shiniqwa Lamprecht, Mathrin Simmers (captain), Vianca Boer, Nadine Roos, Ayanda Malinga, Maria Tshiremba, Patience Mokone