By Lucky Vince Pienaar
While the outcome of the HSBC Sevens tournament in Madrid has no effect on the Blitzboks’ attempt to snatch the last spot at the Olympic Games, they would surely have wanted to kick-off their dash to the Olympics on a better footing.
It was not to be.
Last weekend in Madrid, they should not have lost their opening match against Ireland. A replay would have shown that Siviwe Soyizwapi had not knocked on the ball and South Africa would have won the match, but replays in sevens are only allowed in try scoring situations.
But that doesn’t excuse the fact that for the rest of the weekend, the Blitzboks were back to the lacklustre performances they have been dishing up since they won the Dubai tournament in December last year.
They hardly pitched up for any of their matches. Stalwarts Rosco Specman and Selvyn Davids, as always, gave their best and there were the occasional individual moments of excellence from players like Quewin Nortje, Christie Grobbelaar and Tristan Leyds, but there was no consistency.
Perhaps, worst of all, was their first time tackles. Traditionally, the Blitzboks have always been smaller than their opponents, but they were always known for their fierce first time tackles. There was very little of that on display throughout the weekend. Ironically, coach Phillip Snyman was famous for putting his body on the line as a player, and is now coaching a team that is hesitant on defence.
Sevens is not about two seven minute halves. Sevens is a long game, stretching over three days. The team that wants to win has to play four or five matches at maximum effort.
Can the Blitzboks do this when they fight for survival in Monaco on 21 June?
Why they have to play in the World Rugby Sevens Repechage tournament in the first place is not a pretty story. Losing to Kenya in the Africa Conference last year was the culmination of a terrible comedy of errors.
Now they have to play in this competition competing for one final place in the Olympics. They should win, but they will have to want to win. And right now, three weeks before the tournament, they have not shown the desire to win.
Phillip Snyman all South African sevens lovers are looking at you. You have one chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Grab it with both hands!
HSBC Sevens tournament in Madrid. 31 May – 2 June
Blitzboks 21-26 Ireland
Blitzboks 24-33 New Zealand
Blitzboks 7-26 Fiji
Blitzboks 24-21 Australia
Blitzboks 7-12 Ireland
Image above: Blitzbok legend Siviwe Soyizwapi.
Source: X
