4. Nadine Roos (South Africa)
The heartbeat of the South African side, Nadine Roos was also the hard-working lungs as well as the brain behind the entire squad. Roos entered the tournament having scored over half of South Africa’s points from the previous HSBC Sevens Challenger Series, that saw the Blitz Bokke Women qualify for Paris. Roos was not afraid to go it alone on the biggest stage, and contributed five tries for her side, which again equalled half of their entire try tally. A brilliant player who would not look out of place in the Black Ferns or Australian set-up, Roos could only do so much in the French capital, but it’s more than enough to make our squad.
5. Seraphanie Okemba (France)
Simply brilliant in every match she took part in, French finisher Stephanie Okemba was revered across the tournament upon her home soil. The scrum-cap wearing speedster crossed over for seven tries in five matches, with an impressive strike rate only surpassed by a soon to be discussed Australian. Okemba’s top performance saw her score four tries in one match, as France decimated South Africa with a ruthless pool stage statement of intent. Phenomenal for France, Okemba was pivotal in the fifth placed finish with her arching runs around the outside of her opponents being quite the impressive feat.
6. Maddison Levi (Australia)
Maddison Levi’s stats speak for themselves, but we will do our part to once again wax lyrical for the Australian. Levi entered the semi-finals of the Olympic Games, with a try scoring rate of 50% of every touch she had made. These unbelievable accolades puts her up in the never before seen stratosphere, as the Australian ended the Olympics with a grand total of 14 tries, which was of course a new record for a single Games. We are watching a generational talent before our eyes, so be sure to keep tabs on Maddision, who will be out for revenge with her sister Teagan, after a fourth placed finish in Paris.
7. Michaela Blyde (New Zealand)
It could well have come down to a coin flip to determine which New Zealand wing started our dream team, as both Michaela Blyde and Stacey Waaka had stunning Olympic campaigns. We have opted for Blyde to take the seventh starting spot, as the Kiwi racked up a total of 10 tries in New Zealand’s gold medal retaining campaign. With an explosive first step and the ability to evade tacklers in a phone box, Blyde’s footwork was awe-inspiring in Paris, with a Gold Medal Final score against Canada starting the comeback for their back-to-back Olympic crowns.