His early days as a Blitzbok were a breeze for Shaun Williams. In fact, the former Garsfontein High School learner and University of Johannesburg graduate would have been excused if he thought playing on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series was easy pickings while representing the Springbok Sevens in Vancouver, Edmonton, Dubai (twice) and Seville.
Springbok Women interim coach Louis Koen said the positives from their 16 day trip to Europe will propel the national side forward, but only if the negatives from the tour are addressed.
The Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers are through to the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals, while the Emirates Lions booked their place in the EPCR Champions Cup top-eight following a thrilling weekend of European playoffs.
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.
A group of 41 players will attend this year’s SA Rugby Academy programme, which will also kick-start the Junior Springboks’ preparations for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in South Africa later this year.
Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones will part ways with the team at the end of the 2023 season due to personal reasons after seeing out his contract following the conclusion of the Rugby World Cup in France.
Springbok Women interim coach Louis Koen has made three changes to the starting team for Saturday’s Test against Spain in Madrid, with one uncapped player included on the bench, in one of three changes to the finishers.
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 performance of the Springbok Women forwards against Canada last Saturday brought smiles to the faces of their coaching staff, especially that of Laurian Johannes-Haupt, who is assisting interim coach Louis Koen on their two Test tour to Spain.