South Africa’s Siviwe Soyizwapi charges through the USA defense during the 2019 World Series Sevens. Photo: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby
Soyizwapi believes Blitzboks can bounce back in Singapore
Blitzboks skipper Siviwe Soyizwapi believes the men in green and gold can bounce back from the disappointment of the Hong Kong Sevens as they turn their attention to Singapore.
South Africa’s Siviwe Soyizwapi charges through the USA defense during the 2019 World Series Sevens. Photo: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby
Just more than a month ago, the Blitzboks slumped out of Las Vegas, slapped and bogged down by the reality of their worst-ever finish in the USA Sevens in recent years.
A week later, there was a snappy spring in the step as they departed Vancouver, only slightly bogged down by the extra luggage they had to bring back home – the Canada Sevens trophy.
Fast forward by exactly a month. Again, a bruised and battered Blitzboks side arrived, this time in Singapore, but again with some indignity from another seventh-placed finish in Hong Kong. Could there be another switch from a shuffle to a swagger during this weekend’s Singapore Sevens?
The answer is a positive one if you listen to Blitzboks captain, Siviwe Soyizwapi. Or rather, a determined yes.
“We can fix it,” the winger said after he again stood proud amongst the 15 other captains of the tournament for the traditional Captains Photo before every tournament.
“The individual mistakes we made, only we can fix them. We made the errors, it is our responsibility to make sure we don’t repeat them this weekend,” said Soyizwapi.
“The second week of any tournament cycle is always reflective anyway. We are toning down on training, which leaves more time for analysis and reflecting what happened the week before – where things went wrong, where things worked.”
Siviwe Soyizwapi
Soyizwapi said taking responsibility and fixing the inaccuracies is a given this week. It does feel a little bit like post-Las Vegas as well, he admitted.
“Like that weekend, we are not down and out,” said Soyizwapi.
“We did many good things, and there is still a positive feeling about what we can do and achieve. There is also, most importantly, the admission that we made mistakes, and the desire to fix them.”
Siviwe Soyizwapi
The reviews were productive, he said:
“It is all about getting on the same page and having the same desire to make it happen. We have stuck to the same routine from the North American leg, so we are confident that we can again have a positive result.”
Siviwe Soyizwapi
