The South African Blitzboks are grappling with the quest for consistency after concluding the Vancouver Sevens with a ninth-place finish, a result that Head Coach Sandile Ngcobo has labeled as frustrating.
As the HSBC SVNS season progresses, the team’s fluctuating form has become a central concern, especially with the Los Angeles leg looming on the horizon.
Despite a rousing 24-7 victory over Australia, securing ninth place, the Blitzboks’ overall performance left much to be desired. “We finished the best way possible,” Ngcobo admitted, commending the team’s strong statement in their final game.
Yet, the triumph was a bittersweet ending to a tournament that began with promise following a win over eventual finalists New Zealand, but quickly derailed with back-to-back losses that ousted them from quarter-final contention.
Ngcobo pointed to a lack of mental readiness as the critical factor in their inconsistent displays. “We know we can put any team away; we have the individuals and the culture to put it together but we are not consistent in doing that,” he asserted.
The team’s resilience, evidenced by their concluding wins against Canada and Australia, offers a glimpse of what the Blitzboks are capable of when firing on all cylinders.
As attention turns to the HSBC SVNS Los Angeles event, mental fortitude becomes the focus for the South African side. Drawn in Pool A, they face a challenging slate of matches against Ireland, who edged past them in Vancouver, the series-leading Argentina, and Spain.
The urgency for improvement is underscored by the Blitzboks’ slip to sixth in the overall standings after four tournaments.
With core status for the next series granted to the top eight teams, South Africa finds themselves in precarious proximity to the cut-off, a position they are unaccustomed to and eager to improve upon as they aim to reclaim their place amongst the Sevens elite.
