JOHANNESBURG — Ask any Blitzbok which city they most enjoy on the World Sevens Series and the chances are they’ll say Las Vegas. These players travel the world playing rugby, and while Sevens might not be as financially lucrative as Super Rugby, they all appreciate how travel enriches their lives. Quite why they enjoy Las Vegas so much is not clear, as they tend to smile and shrug when questioned about its attractions. Clearly what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Las Vegas is one of the destinations on the next leg of the World Sevens Series, along with a trip to Vancouver in Canada. The South Africans remain top of the log, after losing the finals in Sydney and in Hamilton, finishing third in Cape Town and winning the opening tournament in Dubai. With the return from injury of some key players, coach Neil Powell has a strong team for the North American leg, despite the loss of four players to Super Rugby including Kwagga Smith and Seabelo Senatla. – David O’Sullivan
From SA Rugby
The experienced Philip Snyman is back from injury and will yet again spearhead the Springbok Sevens’ effort next weekend in Las Vegas when they contest round five of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
Snyman, one of only six South Africans to play in 50 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments, missed the previous tournament in Hamilton, New Zealand earlier this month due to a hamstring injury, but is ready for the trip to North America.
Three other half centurions are also Nevada bound – Kyle Brown (62 tournaments), Branco du Preez (57) and Cecil Afrika (55) will provide the team with a backbone of experience in Las Vegas, where outside back Muller du Plessis could potentially make his Blitzbok debut.
Du Plessis, a former SA Schools and SA Rugby Sevens Academy representative, joined the squad in Hamilton as a replacement player, but was unfortunately ruled out due to a knock sustained in training before the tournament kicked off. The 18-year-old will become Blitzbok #168 if he is called into the starting 12.
Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell made a total of six changes to the team that played in the final in New Zealand. Four of those are due to Vodacom Super Rugby commitments, with Seabelo Senatla, Sikhumbuzo Notshe (DHL Stormers), Tim Agaba (Vodacom Bulls) and Kwagga Smith (Emirates Lions) all back with their respective franchises, while injuries to Justin Geduld (jaw) and Rosko Specman (hamstring) ruled them out of selection.
Powell selected Selvyn Davids to fill the playmaker role left vacant by Geduld, while there is also a return to action for Ryan Oosthuizen and Siviwe Soyizwapi named Ruhan Nel for the trip. Nel also missed out on Hamilton due to injury, but is now ready to play in the USA tournament.
Davids and Oosthuizen will be in action for the first time in the current series, after making their Blitzbok debuts in the 2016/17 season, in which South Africa claimed overall honours. Soyizwapi picked up a knee injury at the HSBC Cape Town Sevens in December and missed the trip to Australasia.
“We were disrupted a bit with injuries during our last trip, but I am pleased that most of the players recovered and responded well in training,” said Powell.
“We are lucky in that we could plan for the absence of the four players who have returned to their Vodacom Super Rugby franchises before the Vegas trip, tapping into our squad depth.
“Siviwe, Selvyn and Ryan have played for us before and I am excited about their expected contributions, while Muller has been part of our plans for a while now. We have a number of old hands on deck, but having some youthful energy from the younger guys are always a bonus.”
The Blitzboks face Wales, Canada and England in Pool B in Las Vegas. They depart for the USA on Saturday.
The Springbok Sevens team (from):
- Ryan Oosthuizen (4 tournaments, 12 matches, 0 points)
- Philip Snyman (captain – 50 tournaments, 225 matches, 321 points, 58 tries)
- Dylan Sage (19 tournaments, 104 matches, 110 points, 22 tries)
- Zain Davids (7 tournaments, 25 matches, 10 points, 2 tries)
- Werner Kok (33 tournaments, 165 matches, 370 points, 74 tries)
- Kyle Brown (62 tournaments, 312 matches, 410 points, 82 tries)
- Branco du Preez (58 tournaments, 291 matches, 1107 points, 81 tries)
- Muller du Plessis (uncapped)
- Selvyn Davids (1 tournament, 5 matches, 2 points)
- Cecil Afrika (57 tournaments, 297 matches, 1368 points, 165 tries)
- Siviwe Soyizwapi (13 tournaments, 59 matches, 180 points, 36 tries)
- Stedman Gans (6 tournaments, 23 matches, 10 points, 2 tries)
- Ruhan Nel (23 tournaments, 127 matches, 217 points, 43 tries)
Source: http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?category=sarugby/sevens&id=4241484
