Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Keanan Hemmonsbey
Published on 2024-04-04 11:53:36
The Blitzboks are gearing up for their next challenge under the guidance of interim coach Philip Snyman in Hong Kong this weekend. This marks a crucial restart for the Springbok Sevens team as they have been facing their toughest season yet. Currently, the four-time Sevens series champions are sitting in seventh place in the overall standings with only two tournaments left before the grand finale in Madrid at the end of May.
There is a sense of urgency for the Blitzboks as they risk playing in a promotion/relegation playoff for core status if their performance continues on a downward trend. Teams ranked eighth to twelfth will have to contend with four Challenger series teams for their spot on the circuit next season. The goal for the team is to finish in the top eight after the Hong Kong and Singapore legs to put themselves in contention for an overall gold medal in Madrid.
Coach Snyman expressed confidence in the team’s abilities, highlighting the clarity in roles that have been established during their preparation. Despite their disappointing 11th place finish in the previous series in Los Angeles, the team has had time to regroup and refocus. Snyman, who took over from Sandile Ngcobo, faces the challenge of improving the team’s performance in Hong Kong, where they have never won a gold medal in 28 attempts but have secured four runner-up medals.
The Blitzboks’ aim is to make it out of the pool stages and into the quarterfinals, with a strong emphasis on restoring pride to the team. The return of key players such as Christie Grobbelaar, Quewin Nortje, Ronald Brown, and Dewald Human from injury provides a boost to the squad. Snyman emphasized the importance of belief and trust, both physically and mentally, in ensuring a successful tournament.
The Springbok Sevens team’s first Pool C game is against Ireland on Friday, followed by a match against Spain. With a renewed sense of determination and focus, the Blitzboks are ready to take on the challenge in Hong Kong and strive for a strong finish in the remaining tournaments of the season.
The journey ahead may be challenging, but with the talent and preparation in place, the Blitzboks are poised to make a statement and showcase their potential under the guidance of coach Snyman.
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