Blitzboks determined to make Cape Town proud
SPOTLIGHT: The Blitzboks assembled in Cape Town on Tuesday without forward Ryan Oosthuizen who suffered a concussion in Dubai this past weekend.
The injury subsequently ruled Oosthuizen out of the Cape Town leg of the World Series.
Springbok Sevens head coach Philip Snyman will only name a replacement for Oosthuizen, who has 51 World Series tournaments, on Thursday.
Snyman, however added four players to the squad that will prepare for this weekend’s spectacle at Cape Town Stadium.
Mfundo Ndlovu, Gino Cupido, Rowan Malgas and Zander Reynders who all formed part of the Springbok Sevens ‘A’ squad who tasted success under the Shotgun banner in Dubai last weekend has been added to the squad.
The pressure will be more on the group having lost an experienced campaigner such as Oosthuizen, with speedsters Selvyn Davids and Ronald Brown also still out injured, but fellow pace man Dewald Human said he’s ready to go again as he did in Dubai last weekend.
The 29-year-old playmaker has 27 HSBC SVNS tournaments behind his name in a career full of highlights, but for Human, a win in Cape Town in front of their home supporters will be the icing on the cake.
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“I know people might look at the Dubai results from last weekend and think we have no chance to win for the first time since 2015 and that is fair,” said Human.
“We did make unforced errors in Dubai, but that was not how it was supposed to happen and something we can rectify.
“For me, the fact that we did not win in Dubai could be a blessing in disguise.
“For the last five times we came to Cape Town having won in Dubai, and that added to the already big pressure that you find for the hosting nation. The expectations have just become so much over the years.”
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Human has captained the side in Hong Kong before and he understands pressure, but this time it is different, he said:
“The pressure is not coming with us from Dubai, so we can focus squarely on getting the job done at home. We have not used the amazing support we get from this Cape Town crowd to our benefit and will be looking to change that this year.”
Human will compete in his third Cape Town Sevens tournament this weekend
In 2019, in my first year playing in Cape Town, we lost to Fiji in the semis and last year we got knocked out in the quarters, but still the crowd stayed on our side,” he said.
“This year, the squad is younger with some rebuilding taking place, but what I can tell all the supporters is that this team have that drive and desire be make everyone proud and to bring honour to the jersey.
“This Blitzbok team will never surrender, there are real fighters in this squad, from coach Philip to the least experienced players. We are all determined to do well this weekend, and I believe it will show.”
The Blitzboks has been drawn in a pool with Ireland and Argentina and Human feels the nee format will create new pressure on each team.
“But unlike the other sides, we have this great crowd to lift us when we are under pressure,” he said. “We would love nothing more to see people coming out to support us this weekend and if we can reward them with a win, so much better.”
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