Mathrin Simmers is one of only two ladies in the Springboks Women's Sevens team with Rugby World Cup Sevens experience.
Simmers and playmaker Zenay Jordaan are the only remaining members of the squad that participated at the 2013 tournament in Russia, and coach Paul Delport will lean on the duo to provide leadership at the showpiece in San Francisco this weekend.
But Simmers is as excited as a rookie going on her first trip, and she couldn't hide her joy when she spoke to the media. The excitement probably comes from the preparation that Delport and the players have put in ahead of the tournament at the AT&T Stadium.
SA Rugby has poured a lot more resources into women's rugby, especially the sevens team, who prepared for the Rugby World Cup Sevens alongside their male counterparts at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS) over the past months.
They have also played in a few tournaments on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series circuit this year; they haven't enjoyed any great success, but the tournaments have given them an idea of the level they need to attain to compete with the best teams in the competition.
"We are a lot more prepared than we were for the previous World Cup," Simmers said.
"We didn't have a lot of players then who could practise together and a squad that the coach could pick from.
"Going into this World Cup, we had a bigger squad and we have had a lot more game time ahead of the tournament. We played a few warm-up games against the Uganda men's team and the SA Students side. We also did a lot of fitness."
Delport, who represented the Blitzboks at the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens, took over the women's coaching job from another South African sevens legend, Renfred Dazel, in December 2017, and he is continuing the good work of trying to get the team on a level to compete with the likes of Australia and New Zealand.
Good results will certainly grow the game among young women in South Africa even more, but that will only be achieved with increased investment.
For the first time eight ladies are contracted to play sevens full-time, and they are getting better with each passing match.
"Moving to SAS has helped a lot," Simmers said.
"The men's team is also here and they have helped us and given us tips.
"I think a lot of people realise that there is a lot of growth potential in women's rugby. The previous coach saw that and was good. Paul is no different.
"He gives you a bit more freedom and he wants us to make our own decisions on the field. So you enjoy yourself a lot more on and off the field."
Simmers, though, knows the No. 13-seeded South Africans have a tough challenge at the Rugby World Cup Sevens, as the knockout format will make it difficult to recover if they slip up.
The South Africans face No. 4-seed Russia in their opening match on Friday, and they must win if they want to have a chance to challenge for a top- eight finish.
"This is not like a normal sevens tournament, and there is going to be a lot more pressure because it's a straight knockout format," Simmer said.
"But it's not really an issue. The girls know their role on the field and you don't really have to keep your hand on them. But my experience helps a lot and I can give them advice if they need it."