The Springbok Sevens produced a much-improved display in Hong Kong this weekend despite losing three key games by less than one score, and as a result of their sixth place, they climbed two spots on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings – from seventh to fifth – with three tournaments to go in the season.
Seven stops into the 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, and there has already been five different tournament winners, with only New Zealand and Argentina having won more than once, while Australia, South Africa and Samoa have also stood on the top step of the podium since the season kicked off in Hong Kong last November.
They may have arrived in Hong Kong with their backs to the wall, but the Springbok Sevens team know where to make the necessary improvements to get back on track with only four tournaments left in the 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
The Springbok Sevens team have arrived in Hong Kong and are looking forward to getting back on the field and fixing what went wrong in North America a month ago, but also to see three new players join the Blitzbok family at arguably the most prestigious event on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
SA Rugby President Mr Mark Alexander congratulated the Springbok Sevens team for scooping the Team of Year Award at the 16th annual SA Sports Awards in Sun City on Saturday.
Springbok Sevens coach Sandile Ngcobo included three uncapped players in the Blitzbok squad for the next two tournaments on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, with Donovan Don, Ethan James and Sebastiaan Jobb in line for their first taste of international sevens rugby in the next fortnight.
The Springbok Sevens team will leave no stone unturned to get back to winning ways when they return to South Africa on Tuesday after a disappointing North American leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
The Springbok Sevens team came back from 19 points down to draw against France (19-19) and then scored six tries against Japan (40-12) to finish Day One of the HSBC Canada Sevens on a satisfying note at BC Place in Vancouver on Friday (Canadian time).
The Springbok Sevens team arrived from the USA in a cold Vancouver this week battered and bruised, having lost four of five matches at the HSBC LA Sevens last weekend, while Jaiden Baron, Masande Mtshali and Travis Ismaiel returned home after picking up injuries last weekend that ruled them out of action.
Those who watched last weekend's HSBC LA Sevens would have been excused if they wondered which masked player the Springbok Sevens team had on the field, but they would probably have been more puzzled on what Blitzbok team was on display as one the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series premier participants stumbled and slid through a weekend of disappointing results.