After losing to Argentina in the Vancouver title final, Coach Philip Snyman is not deterred. This is because the Blitzboks will prepare to face their rivals again this weekend.
Snyman’s goal of reaching every semi-final in the tournament is firmly on track at the Hong Kong Rugby HSBC SVNS. The Springbok Sevens (1.06) coach is still positive and says that he is happy with the team’s performance.
Zain Davids’ Return & Cupido Debut
Spirits have been further boosted with the announcement that Zain Davids will be returning. He will be a forward for the highly anticipated Hong Kong HSBC 7s Tournament. On another note, Snyman said that there was concern about David’s comeback following his knee injury in Perth. He has attributed his return to the medical team and the hard work that Davids put in. With 45 tries under his belt, David’s comeback is a welcome one.
Joining the team as the outside centre is newcomer Gino Cupido. Snyman has said that he is pleased that Cupido has worked hard to earn his place on the team. The young Cupido has previously donned the green and gold jersey at the Commonwealth Games and the SA under-18 side. The 20-year-old has also represented DHL Western Province at both junior and senior levels.
What To Expect in the 5th Round
Snyman says that the team knows Australia and New Zealand. He also has a good understanding of Uruguay playing them in a pre-tournament training session. His criteria for work ethic, clinical execution, and strong defence are all vital for the Blitzbokke. Most especially in the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. He believes that South Africa is still in contention to win the series and has faith that the hard work that has gone in will pay off.
The Blitzbok rotation policy runs parallel to their selection policy and ensures that younger players are developed, while seasoned veterans get a chance to rest. “It is the team’s execution that is at the forefront, not the opponents” according to Snyman, adding that was the reason for the final team selection.
Blitzbok Line-up For Hong Kong
Currently 4th in the standings, the Blitzboks team picked to take their place in Pool B has a strong mix of experience and energy.
Flyhalf Dewald Human is the third change for the weekend, taking over as captain. Ronald Brown is recovering from an injury and David Brits has been awarded a well-deserved rest, after competing in all four previous season tournaments. Sebastiaan Jobb is serving his penalty after being red-carded in Vancouver, making him unavailable for the weekend.
Siviwe Soyizwapi makes his 57th appearance and 6th return to Hong Kong this weekend, alongside the well-accomplished Ryan Oosthuizen who will be running onto the field for the 54th time. Co-captains Impi Visser and Selvyn Davids, as well as Shilton van Wyk, make up the last of the veterans.
The tournament will be Gino Cupido’s first for South Africa, as well as Tristan Leyds and Zander Reynders’ first visit to Hong Kong.
Collectively, the team have scored 524 tries, a figure that Snyman will want to see increase this weekend. The Springbok Seven squad are currently 4th in the standings placed below Argentina, Spain and Fiji. If their goal of being in the top 4 in every tournament is achieved, it will bring some well-earned confidence to the side. A good result this weekend could see them advance and perhaps even take over the top spot.
New Stadium To Host The Matches
Since 1982, Hong Kong Stadium has hosted the Hong Kong Sevens. However, 2025 will see the venue change to the recently opened Kai Tak Stadium. Thanks to the more favourable time zones, South African fans will be able to catch all the matches without having to drag themselves from their beds too early!
The Blitzbokke take on Uruguay at 11h56 on Friday and will face Australia at 14h39. The match against New Zealand is at 07h43 on Saturday, while all the finals will be decided on Sunday.
The HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is the 5th tournament in the series. Singapore and Los Angeles are scheduled to follow in April and May, respectively.
