Brazil 7s Women defeated South Africa 7s Women 24-17 in the 11th Place Play-Off at HSBC SVNS Bordeaux 2026. Four try-scorers powered the Asa Branca to a winning finish.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Brazil wasted no time establishing control. Soares opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, dotting down after a sharp passing sequence out wide. Lopes doubled the lead just a minute later (4'), powering through a gap off a scrum platform. Costa made it 15-0 in the 6th minute with a classic sevens finish — taking an inside pass at pace and stepping past the final defender.
South Africa hit back through Maria Tshiremba, who touched down in the 10th minute to reduce the deficit. Malinga then crossed in the 11th minute to bring the Springbok Women's Sevens within three points. But Brazil responded immediately before halftime: Faria scored in the 13th minute, and the conversion stretched the lead back to 10 points.
In the second half, Tshiremba struck again in the 15th minute for her second try of the match, but Byrhandre Dolf's conversion attempt — her only successful kick of the afternoon — was insufficient to close the gap. Brazil's defence held firm in the final exchanges to seal the seven-point win.
The Turning Point
Faria's try on the stroke of halftime was decisive. After South Africa had clawed back to 15-10 through Malinga's score, a Brazilian turnover in the 22 — won after a thunderous tackle — released Faria down the left touchline. The conversion made it 22-10 at the break, giving Brazil a two-score buffer that South Africa never fully erased.
Key Performers
- Gisele Gomes (Brazil): The forward was a wrecking ball in contact, beating multiple defenders and providing the platform for Brazil's quick ball. She also kicked two conversions from four attempts.
- Maria Tshiremba (South Africa): A brace of tries for the dangerous outside back, who consistently found space on the edges and finished coolly twice.
- Isadora Lopes (Brazil): Scored the crucial second try and made four clean breaks, constantly testing the South African defensive line.
- Byrhandre Dolf (South Africa): The fly-half converted one of three attempts and orchestrated her side's attacking shape under pressure.
Player of the Match: Isadora Lopes (Brazil 7s W) — her try and all-round attacking presence set the tone.
By the Numbers
Brazil's 46% possession — skewed heavily to the first half (65%) — tells the story of a match they controlled early and then managed. They made 20 tackles to South Africa's 13, reflecting defensive solidarity after the break. Both sides beat 11 defenders each, underlining the open, broken-field nature of the contest. Brazil's 4/3 try count translated into 24-17 on the scoreboard, while conversion success (50% vs 33%) proved the difference in a tight points differential.
What It Means
The win secured 11th place in the HSBC SVNS World Championship Series final standings for Brazil. South Africa finish 12th. For Brazil, it caps a season of progress on the women's SVNS circuit as they build toward the LA 2028 Olympics. The top eight teams for next season's main SVNS Series have been confirmed: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, France, Fiji, Japan and Spain.
This was the final match of the 2026 SVNS World Championship Series season for both sides.
Verdict
Brazil's fast start — three tries in the opening six minutes — proved unassailable. South Africa fought back admirably but left themselves too much to do after a first-half deficit that exposed their defensive organisation against direct, phased attacking play. A spirited end to the season for the Asa Branca.
Rivalry since 2018
Brazil 7s W vs South Africa 7s W Head to Head Results· 6
Brazil 7s W and South Africa 7s W have met 6 times — Brazil 7s W won 4, South Africa 7s W won 2, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2018. Brazil 7s W leads the head-to-head with 4 victories from 6 meetings. A combined 130 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 21.67 per match (89 for the home side, 41 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 3 matches (50%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 6 games (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 19–12 in 2026.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 26 Jun 2026