Fresh start for rejuvenated Blitzboks says Powell
What happened in Vancouver, should stay in Vancouver. That is, sort of, how Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell feels on the eve of the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.
The Blitzboks completed their training for the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens on Thursday and bar a quick captain’s run a couple of hours before their opener on Friday against Japan (kick-off at 12h06 SA time), Powell was pleased with the week’s preparations.
“There are a couple of changes and a total of four new players from the Vancouver tournament and that considered, I am happy with the way things went,” said Powell.
Powell stressed the fact that the team will start with a clean slate, despite winning in Vancouver last month, their first tournament victory in the 2018/19 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
“That win will not mean anything here in Hong Kong,” said Powell.
“It did help with the belief and was good reward for the work done up to that point. It gave the squad some momentum. We start afresh here in Hong Kong though and all focus will be on delivering a performance we can be proud of in our first match against Japan.”
Powell made two significant changes to the squad for the trip, moving Werner Kok to the forwards and including the uncapped Angelo Davids. Integrating them into their new roles was part of the focus this week.
“They need to understand their roles and responsibilities in the team, so we did focus a bit on that,” explained Powell.
“The most pleasing aspect about the win last time was the development of individual players into the team environment and the development of the team in executing our processes. If we can continue making progress in that regard I will be a happy coach.”
Powell said the younger players (four are making Hong Kong debuts) have brought heaps of energy into the squad: “It is now up to the senior players to use that energy and guide the guys in channelling it into the right direction. If we manage that, we will be good for this weekend.”
He is under no illusions on what the Blitzboks can expect from Japan, their first opponents.
“We played them in Las Vegas early last month and won 26-0, but they had us under pressure at times,” said Powell.
“They use the rush defence well and I see they have some guys from Pacific Islander origin that played for them in the past, back in the team.”
Powell said they will need to get their focus right for the match: “We only play at six o’clock in the evening (Hong Kong time), so it becomes a long day waiting to get started. It is important to be switched on when the game kicks-off.”
Meanwhile, Blitzboks midfielder Stedman Gans said he is keen to improve on his growing maturity as playmaker and leader in the team, with his status in the squad having changed from “asking the questions” to “providing the answers”.
“Yes, my role has changed a bit; the younger guys are now where I was a year or so ago, asking a lot of advice and looking for ways to improve. Now I find them coming to me for answers,” Gans chuckled.
Time on the field has been the key to unlock his bigger impact on the squad, so much so that Gans is in the starting line-up every time they take to the field.
“Time on the field gives you confidence and your impact on the ball gets better. The more you play the more you can anticipate and that gives you more time on the ball,” he said, adding that he hopes to be a guiding light again this weekend, albeit in different circumstances.
“Last year we were complete underdogs, this time we arrived here as the team who won the previous tournament (in Canada), and so the expectations will be different. For us though, it is all about starting from zero again and making sure we implement our processes.”
The Springbok Sevens’ Pool A fixtures (SA times):
Friday 5 April:
12h06: Japan
Saturday 6 April:
05h41: Scotland
09h22: Samoa
The Blitzbok squad for Hong Kong is:
1. Ryan Oosthuizen (13 tournaments, 61 matches, 65 points, 13 tries)
2. Sako Makata (2 tournaments, 9 matches, 0 points)
3. Impi Visser (6 tournaments, 35 matches, 20 points, four tries)
4. Chris Dry (66 tournaments; 331 matches, 465 points, 93 tries)
5. Werner Kok (43 tournaments, 218 matches, 485 points, 97 tries)
6. Kurt-Lee Arendse (one tournament, two matches, 0 points)
7. Branco du Preez (67 tournaments, 339 matches, 1120 points; 88 tries, 387 conversions, 1 penalty, 1 drop goal)
8. Selvyn Davids (11 tournaments, 53 matches, 237 points, 27 tries, 51 conversions)
9. Justin Geduld (42 tournaments; 217 matches, 904 points – 95 tries, 213 conversions, 1 penalty)
10. Stedman Gans (15 tournaments, 69 matches, 105 points, 21 tries)
11. Siviwe Soyizwapi (captain; 24 tournaments, 124 matches, 385 points, 77 tries)
12. Angelo Davids (on debut)
13. James Murphy (2 tournaments, 11, 0 points) – official reserve
Angelo Davids Player Profile:
Physical: 1.78m & 81kg
DOB: 1 June 1999, Cape Town
Education: Stellenberg High School
Other squads: DHL Western Province Under-19, Craven Week U18; Academy Week U18, Grant Khomo U16; SA Rugby Sevens Academy
Tournaments: On debut
Davids was earmarked at Stellenberg High School as a potential Blitzbok. He was scouted into the SA Rugby Sevens Academy straight after school and played for the Academy in tournaments in Dubai and South America in 2018 and 2019. He was due to make his debut when a young SA side contested the Hong Kong Sevens last year, but was ruled out due to injury. The 19-year-old was a sprinter at school and is very fast, boasts some good footwork and is a solid defender.
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