Ryan Oosthuizen says winning the SVNS title in Perth over the weekend rates among the very best of his career.
The experienced forward starred in Sunday’s final at HBF Park, scoring two tries as the Blitzboks edged Fiji 21-19 to claim their second title of the 2025-26 series, following December’s Cape Town victory.
“The Cape Town win was the best of the 15 tournaments I’ve won, but this one is very close and definitely in my top five,” said Oosthuizen, who played in his 60th World Series event.
“We came here frustrated after Singapore. Individual errors crept in and hurt our system, and we had to be honest with ourselves about that.”
SNYMAN: Perth win massive for Blitzboks
Those conversations paid off in Perth, where South Africa beat hosts Australia before avenging two recent defeats to Fiji in the final.
“We realised we were our own worst enemy in Singapore. Fix that, and we’d be competitive – and we proved that here,” Oosthuizen said.
The 30-year-old admitted the narrow losses to Fiji in Singapore and earlier in Perth fuelled his motivation.
“We know what our standards are. In those games, we didn’t meet them,” he said. “When we’re on song, we can beat Fiji by 20. So yes, we had a point to prove.”
“We put respect back in the jersey, and that’s the most pleasing part.”
The Blitzboks return home this week before the series resumes in Vancouver and New York.
Photo: Richard Wainwright/AAP Image via REUTERS
The post Oosthuizen: Blitzboks put respect back in jersey appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Ryan Oosthuizen says winning the SVNS title in Perth over the weekend rates among the very best of his career.
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