Springbok Sevens coach Philip Snyman says his team has pressed the reset button ahead of this weekend’s Hong Kong tournament.
The Blitzboks won the SVNS series this season, winning four out of the six regular-season tournaments, but have never won the iconic Hong Kong event which this season forms the opening leg of the SVNS World Championship. It will be followed by tournaments in Valladolid and Bordeaux to crown the world champions.
Snyman insists the team will start from zero despite their recent success.
“We did the reset and we are ready for what Hong Kong will throw at us,” Snyman said. “We had a good week, worked hard and we are ready to play.”
Snyman said key to that reset was to reflect and analyse what they did well and why it worked for them.
“Something you did well in the previous tournament does not automatically carry over into the next.
“You have to start again as you just cannot expect things to happen, you need to work very hard to make sure your standards are the highest it can be.
MORE: Blitzboks target Hong Kong breakthrough
“We have five fundamentals that we base our season on, and we have experienced success when those are non-negotiable on the day.
“Effort and attitude, combined with those fundamentals brought us far this year. But we start afresh, knowing it will take an exceptional effort to be successful this weekend.”
All three of their pool opponents in Hong Kong – Argentina, Spain and Uruguay – are Spanish speaking and play in a very similar way, but that analysis will not bear fruit if the Blitzboks are not switched on, Snyman said.
“Discipline will be key again. We don’t want to lose any players due to cards and when we have the ball in hand, we need to keep that possession. The players are focussed and ready.”
LEYDS: Blitzboks have target on their backs
Hong Kong pools
A: South Africa, Argentina, Spain, Uruguay
B: Fiji, France, Great Britain, Germany
C: New Zealand, Australia, Kenya, USA
Blitzboks fixtures (SA times)
Friday, 17 April
5:16am: Uruguay
8:49am: Spain
Saturday, 18 April
6:13am: Argentina
Blitzboks squad: Ryan Oosthuizen, Impi Visser (c), Zain Davids, Ronald Brown, Selvyn Davids, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Shilton van Wyk, Quewin Nortje, Donavan Don, Sebastiaan Jobb, David Brits, Tristan Leyds, Jayden Nell.
Photo: David van der Sandt/Gallo Images
The post Blitzboks ready to break Hong Kong curse appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Springbok Sevens coach Philip Snyman says his team has pressed the reset button ahead of this weekend’s Hong Kong tournament.
The post Blitzboks ready to break Hong Kong curse appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
