Blitzboks take stock as they prepare for the Sydney Sevens
The standings after three rounds of the World Sevens Series looks a bit better for South Africa, who have moved into the top 4.
The standings after three rounds of the World Sevens Series looks a bit better for South Africa, who have moved into the top 4.
The performance by both the Springboks and the Blitzboks last weekend turned social media into a happy place where South Africans seemed genuinely proud to be South African again.
Consistency was a hallmark of the Blitzboks’ success. In all 10 tournaments this season they qualified for the Cup semi-finals. They won twice (Dubai and Paris), and were losing finalists three times (Sydney, Hamilton and London).
The Blitzboks can only hope for an unlikely Fijian implosion in the final tournament on the World Sevens Series calendar in Paris next week if they’re to retain their world crown.
Regular captain, Philip Snyman, and leading try-scorer, Seabelo Senatla, have been recalled to the Springbok Sevens squad by Neil Powell for the HSBC London Sevens next weekend.
Kyle Brown, the second most-capped Springbok Sevens player of all time, will lead an exciting Blitzbok squad to Singapore this weekend for the eighth tournament of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
The Springbok Sevens team missed out on a podium finish at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia and have now set their sights on the remaining two objectives they aim to achieve this season.
Selvyn Davids was named Player of the Hong Kong Sevens, and has been rewarded for his strong showing with a call-up to the Blitzboks Commonwealth Games team.
After five tournaments in the 2017/18 World Sevens Series season, the Blitzboks have a handy 10-point lead at the top of the overall standings, despite their poorest performance so far.
The experienced Philip Snyman is back from injury and will yet again spearhead the Springbok Sevens’ effort next weekend in Las Vegas.