Blitzboks

SEVILLE, SPAIN – JANUARY 26: Impi Visser during the 2022 HSBC Spain Sevens captains photocall at Plaza de Espana on January 26, 2022 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by David Van Der Sandt/Gallo Images)

Blitzboks don’t want to miss a step as they look to maintain incredible streak

When the Blitzboks run out at the Estadio Olympico de la Cartjuna on Saturday for the Spain Sevens they will be keen to ensure they hit the ground running

Blitzboks

SEVILLE, SPAIN – JANUARY 26: Impi Visser during the 2022 HSBC Spain Sevens captains photocall at Plaza de Espana on January 26, 2022 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by David Van Der Sandt/Gallo Images)

Blitzboks star Impi Visser says the real issue when they run out at the Estadio Olympico de la Cartjuna on Saturday for the Spain Sevens will be to ensure they hit the ground running.

The 26-year-old forward points to the fact that the Blitzboks will be facing hosts Spain first up. They will have to be match ready, especially as the home side would have played their first match on Friday. South Africa have a first-round bye due to Fiji again missing out because of COVID complications.

Blitzboks need to be sharp

Like last week, the Blitzboks will be awarded three match points and a 0-0 scoreline due to the Fijians not playing in Spain.

“We will have to be spot on come Saturday, as we have a bye on Friday and will not be in the same position as Spain and USA, who would have played a game already,” said Visser, adding that he was comfortable that the players have regrouped from last week’s win in Malaga.

Visser added: “We needed to get back to ground zero once we arrived here, and I think the guys did that well.

“We don’t really count the number of matches won.

“[The Blitzboks] only care about what we need to do to do justice to our jersey and the values of the Blitzbok team. We are only looking at contributing to the system, not winning streaks or things like that.”

Visser said he will process the fact that he will skipper in place of the injured Siviwe Soyizwapi in good time.

“The real emotion of running onto the field as tournament captain is immense and difficult to describe in words,” he said.

“It’s fair to say it is huge for me and the real meaning of this will come to me later, I am sure. There have been legends of the game before me, so following in their footsteps is just massive.”

Blitzboks guard against Complacency

Coach Neil Powell said complacency should not be part of the Blitzboks‘ vocabulary come this weekend. The fourth tournament of the World Rugby Sevens Series, comes after his team have won the previous three in the 2022 season.

“There is not much fear of that, no – I could see in the gym session this morning that they are ready to go and that they will bring some good energy to the field,” said Powell.

“We need to make sure we focus on the right things. We have another defence session before our first match and I am sure that will get us back to zero, which is where we want to start our first match at.

“Talking about defence, we only conceded four tries in five matches last week and that was great, but I don’t think our attack was as good as it could be. We did not keep possession as well as we could have done and we have looked at that aspect of our game.

“We are still hoping for the perfect game and hopefully we can play that in Seville.”

“It is not an easy pool, especially as Spain will be playing at home. They won twice in Malaga, beating Scotland and Wales, which is proof of their quality.

“They are a bit like Argentina and tend to be difficult opponents to break down. We will have to be up for it, no doubt. They will try to take our space away.

“The USA have good senior players around and it always is a hard-fought match against them, so we will need to be up for that clash,” Powell warned. 

Springbok Sevens pool schedule in Seville (SA times):

Saturday, 29 January

11h57: Spain

17h25: USA

Blitzboks squad

1. Sako Makata – 12 tournaments, 50 matches, 35 points (7 tries).

2. Ryan Oosthuizen – 26 tournaments, 128 matches, 130 points (26 tries).

3. Impi Visser (captain) – 16 tournaments, 81 matches, 85 points (17 tries).

4. Zain Davids – 27 tournaments, 137 matches, 125 points (25 tries).

5. Christie Grobbelaar – six tournaments, 29 matches, 45 points (9 tries).

6. JC Pretorius – 15 tournaments, 82 matches, 180 points (36 tries).

7. Branco du Preez – 78 tournaments, 397 matches, 1401 points (99 tries, 450 conversions, 1 penalty goal, 1 drop goal).

8. Selvyn Davids – 24 tournaments, 125 matches, 498 points (59 tries, 100 conversions, 1 penalty goal).

9. Justin Geduld – 51 tournaments, 265 matches, 1051 points (114 tries, 239 conversions, 1 penalty goal).

10. Dewald Human – 12 tournaments, 56 matches, 169 points (13 tries, 52 conversions).

11. Shaun Williams – four tournaments, 20 matches, 46 points (8 tries, 3 conversions).

12. Mfundo Ndhlovu – six tournaments, 28 matches, 35 points (7 tries).

13. Darren Adonis – three tournaments, 17 matches, 37 points (7 tries, 1 conversion).