South Africa Springbok Sevens team, also known as the Blitzboks, secured their spot at the top of Pool A during the World Rugby Sevens Repechage tournament in Monaco on Saturday.
Their triumphant journey through the pool stage saw them clinch convincing victories against Tonga (31-7) and Chile (26-7) on Saturday, following a dominant performance against Mexico (44-0) on Friday.
This successful run has set them up for a quarter-final clash with Uganda at 11:31 AM (SA time) on Sunday.
The tournament winner will earn a coveted place in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Interim Head Coach Philip Snyman expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance in the pool stage, acknowledging that an essential milestone had been achieved.
“We needed to top the pool and to do so, we needed to play three good matches on the trot,” said Snyman. “I think we did that over the last two days, and although it was not perfect, the first objective was reached.”
Looking ahead to their match against Uganda, Snyman emphasized the skill and motivation of their upcoming opponents. He has a unique insight into the Ugandan team, having coached them to Rugby World Cup Sevens qualification in 2022.
“They are skillful athletes and a country with a proud Olympic heritage, so need no motivation for this game,” Snyman said. “For us, the challenge will be to continue the momentum picked up over the first two days because tomorrow is when it really matters.”
The Blitzboks’ opening match against Tonga was predictably physical. They countered with superior ball skills and pace, with Quewin Nortje showcasing his speed through two well-taken tries in the first half.
Shilton van Wyk also contributed, giving South Africa a commanding 24-0 lead at halftime. Despite conceding a try in the second half, the Blitzboks maintained their dominance.
Against Chile, patience was key. Tristan Leyds opened the scoring after a clever Selvyn Davids grubber breached the Chilean defense.
Leyds also converted for a 7-0 lead. Van Wyk scored on the halftime buzzer, courtesy of a Leyds offload, which Leyds again converted for a 14-0 halftime lead.
In the second half, Siviwe Soyizwapi finished a well-executed try from a counter-attack. Although Chile managed to score with two minutes left, Ryan Oosthuizen sealed the victory with a try, converted by Shaun Williams.
As the Blitzboks prepare for their crucial quarter-final match, the stakes could not be higher. With the Paris Olympics qualification on the line, Snyman’s team will need to sustain their momentum and deliver another strong performance against a motivated Ugandan side.
