Darren Adonis Blitzboks Cape Town Sevens. Getty Images

Darren Adonis will make his first appearance at the Cape Town Sevens. Image: Getty Images.

Blitzboks suffer injury blow, Adonis called up for Cape Town Sevens

Sandile Ngcobo has included Darren Adonis in the Blitzboks squad for the Cape Town Sevens after Dewald Human was ruled out through injury.

by Mariette Adams

07-12-2022 17:56

in Sevens

Darren Adonis will make his first appearance at the Cape Town Sevens. Image: Getty Images.

Sandile Ngcobo has included Darren Adonis in the Blitzboks squad for the Cape Town Sevens after playmaker Dewald Human was ruled out through injury.

Adonis’ inclusion is the only change to the side that clinched the Dubai Sevens title last weekend as he replaces Human, who picked up a groin injury in Dubai, which ruled him out of Cape Town, the third stop on the 2022/2023 World Rugby Sevens Series.

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Adonis featured in the opening tournament of the series in Hong Kong last month; his inclusion in this squad for the Cape Town sevens will be involved his ninth World Series tournament, but his first appearance in the Mother City.

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Ngcobo said injury disruption will not affect the momentum the Blitzboks picked up in Dubai.

“Darren has trained with us before we left for Dubai and then played there as well as part of the Samurai (SA Sevens ‘A’ team) in the invitational tournament. I managed to watch those games and he did very well, so I am happy to have him,” Ngcobo told the official Springboks website.

“He covers flyhalf and centre and he kicks with both feet, so he brings a versatility element to the squad as well. Darren is experienced enough to slot in immediately and has done very well.”

Ngcobo said the focus for the team will remain inward, with a clear understanding of how they want to express themselves at the Cape Town Stadium.

“We have two identities – one on the field and one off the field,” he said. “In the latter, it is about being a brotherhood, caring for each other and driving a shared culture. We are nailing that one, so that drives us forward very well.

“The on-field identity is defence, we do not want people to score tries against us and if they do, they need to work really hard for it. We want to be dominant in defence and that attitude will not change this weekend.”

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The Blitzboks squad:

Impi Visser – 23 tournaments, 118 matches, 125 points (25 tries)
Zain Davids – 34 tournaments, 170 matches, 160 points (32 tries)
Ryan Oosthuizen – 34 tournaments, 163 matches, 165 points (33 tries)
James Murphy – 10 tournaments, 46 matches, 50 points (10 tries)
JC Pretorius – 22 tournaments, 116 matches, 245 points (49 tries)
Masande Mtshali – 1 tournament, 1 match
Branco du Preez – 84 tournaments, 426 matches, 1442 points (101 tries, 466 conversions, 1 drop goal)
Ricardo Duarrtee – 1 tournament, 6 matches, 30 points (4 tries, 5 conversions)
Darren Adonis – 8 tournaments, 33 matches, 54 points (10 tries, 2 conversions)
Muller Du Plessis – 21 tournaments, 98 matches, 325 points (65 tries)
Shilton van Wyk – 6 tournaments, 34 matches, 50 points (10 tries)
Dalvon Blood – 2 tournaments, 10 matches, 25 points (5 tries)
Siviwe Soyizwapi (captain) – 42 tournaments, 221 matches, 690 points (138 tries)

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