A South African superstar, a legend among players of the fantasy game, and one of the best players at Rugby World Cup 2025. Now Nadine Roos has another tough task on her trip to the UK: picking just 15 players for her fantasy team of the semi-finals.
Tell us about South Africa's Rugby World Cup journey
We came to the World Cup with a goal. Our goal was to reach the quarter finals and we knew anything could happen when you get to a quarter-final. Against Brazil, France, and Italy each game was something different and there was a lot of testing of our character. I think our fighting spirit has come through to everyone watching.
What were the main factors behind your team's improvements?
We had a change in our management with Coach Swys (Swys de Bruin) and Coach Bafana (Bafana Nhleko) coming in. Coach Bafana was with the men’s U20s and he is our defensive coach. Looking back at when we starting our World Cup campaign last year we heard what our management had planned for the whole year and the goals they had set for us to reach to quarter-final.
The system Coach Swys has brought in for our attack really worked and he is adaptable and will bring in a new style of playing or a new move within a tournament week to exploit our next opponent’s weaknesses. Coach Bafana’s defensive system was never similar for each game and he came with a different plan for each game about how we were going to make it difficult for our opposition. We all brought into these systems and what we wanted to achieve and that was the massive change that had a very big impact.
How about your switch to scrum-half?
Before the previous World Cup I moved from wing to full-back and coming into this Rugby World Cup I was moving to scrum-half. My first test cap at scrum-half was against Canada where I was moved from full-back to scrum-half and the second test I started there. But I understood the thinking from the coaches about why they wanted me there and I was very happy to do whatever was needed for my country. Coming to this World Cup I have more experience in rugby. I have played on the biggest stage in sevens and more test series and so it has been easier to set out personal goals for myself. If I can contribute on the pitch and give the team momentum with my skill and rugby knowledge then I am happy.
What's it like playing behind that South African pack?
If your forwards don’t give you a dominant platform then it is very hard for the backs to strike from it. If you watch the Springboks (the South African men’s side) their identity is very similar to our forwards as well. We want to give good set-pieces for the backline to launch. We have very strong forwards and that’s why we use them so often in our game and that is the style we like and that is the gameplan we want to play.
Tell us about Aseza Hela
She is so strong and when she runs she just looks forward and she goes. She’s like a train that just keeps going and can’t be stopped. She creates that forward momentum for us on attack and that is the strength of her game.
Who are your scrum-half idols?
Natasha Hunt. She wasn’t selected at the previous World Cup. I saw something on telly about her missing out on that World Cup and I didn’t know much about her journey because at that point I wasn’t too familiar with the fifteens ladies. She is so calm, so composed, and I think her kicking game was so good. You saw that in their quarter-final. Missing out on the last tournament and coming back, I have so much respect for that.
What's it like facing Portia Woodman?
I have played a lot against Portia on the sevens circuit. It is always such a privilege playing against her, she is such a legend. There are no words to describe Portia but her attack is fearless and she runs hard. In defence she is a very good tackler and poacher over the ball. Her overall game is just brilliant and she is a key player in that Black Ferns team. Getting to know her you see the person and her personality - she is such a good personality and the kind of person you want to sit around with and have some fun.
Who are you backing to win #RWC2025?
I think it will England v New Zealand in the final. There will be some very good rugby over these next few weeks and I would like to see New Zealand win it for the seventh time and stamp their dominance over the World Cup.
Our Top Tips
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (NZL) - Olsen-Baker scored the second most points of the quarter-final round after coming back from an injury suffered in her opening match against Spain. She has a point to prove and just two more games to prove it in. She’ll be hoping the second of those is a final.
Georgia Ponsonby (NZL) - Ponsonby has accrued more points in every successive round of this World Cup - 18pts, 23pts, 33pts, 50pts. She’s created a try and scored one but she has been a tackling machine and will be crucial as Canada throw everything at the Black Ferns.
Joanna Grisez (FRA) - Grisez had her game of the tournament against South Africa in the final pool stage scoring 96pts. She saw much less ball against Ireland but also scored a try to make it four in three matches. With or without the ball, she contributes so much to France’s success.
