The South Africa Springboks Sevens team is poised to kick off their third consecutive charge for Olympic gold with high hopes and a clear endorsement from their coach, Philip Snyman.
As the Blitzboks prepare to face Ireland and New Zealand on the opening day of the competition at Stade de France on Wednesday, Snyman, a bronze medalist from the 2016 Rio Games, expressed confidence in the team’s readiness and preparation.
“We are ready,” declared Snyman. “We had a good week of preparation since we arrived here, which included a beneficial training session against Uruguay two days ago. That helped us a lot, as a match is always better than just training as a squad. We saw different pictures on attack and defense and had to adapt accordingly. It was a well-worth exercise and sharpened us up nicely for the matches against Ireland and New Zealand.”
While winning medals at the Olympics carries unique prestige, Snyman emphasized that the team’s mindset remains unchanged, and they are not approaching the tournament differently because it is the Olympics.
“For us, it will just be another opportunity to represent our country and to deliver our best effort for the jersey,” he said. “Yes, the reward might be different, but the game remains the same, and that is where our focus will be tomorrow.”
Snyman is acutely aware of the challenges posed by their opening opponents, Ireland and New Zealand.
“Both of them are the same in style and approach. They are bigger than us and more physical and will attack our breakdown to slow us down. We have real magic and speed on the outside, and teams will try to prevent us from using that,” Snyman explained.
He highlighted the importance of the team’s defensive efforts to ensure a positive start.
“Ireland is our main focus for now, we want to start well and lay a foundation for the rest of the tournament. We need to make our tackles and put pressure on their attackers. They are a dangerous side when they have momentum, so we need to stop them from getting going.”
Snyman is confident in the attacking ability of his side and believes their recent competitive play could give them an edge.
“We are the only team to play in the repechage in Monaco and had no break at the end of the world series in Madrid at the beginning of June, so we are rugby fit and will be ready to go. That could just give us an edge on the other sides, who have not played tournament sevens as recently as we did,” added Snyman.
As the Blitzboks step onto the Olympic stage once again, they carry with them the hopes and dreams of a nation. Their journey to Paris has been marked by meticulous preparation, strategic planning, and an unwavering focus on their ultimate goal.
With the endorsement of their experienced coach and the momentum from recent competitive play, the Springbok Sevens team is ready to make their mark and strive for Olympic glory.
The excitement and anticipation among South African fans are palpable as the Blitzboks prepare to showcase their talent and determination on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages.
With a rich history of success and a reputation for resilience, the Springbok Sevens team is poised to inspire and unite the nation with their performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
