After ending fourth in the Perth SVNS tournament, the Blitzboks won’t have an easy task recovering next month in Vancouver after being drawn in the tournament’s so-called ‘Pool of Death’.
If you thought the fun was over, it ain't 🤩#HSBCSVNSVAN is up next and the pools are looking tasty 🔥#HSBCSVNS pic.twitter.com/Zll0NrdBBu
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) January 26, 2025
The Springbok Sevens, after losing out to Spain in the third-place playoff Down Under, have been grouped with the All Black Sevens, Ireland and the USA for the third-last tournament of the regular season.
Although head coach Philip Snyman was not entirely satisfied with how his side ended on the final day of play in Perth, they’ll take plenty of confidence from the first tournament of the year into the next one.
His troops are currently fourth on the overall rankings of the SVNS Series, with three regular tournaments to go and the Championship decider in Los Angeles.
The Blitzboks have a couple of weeks of training in Stellenbosch before they exchange the Cape Town summer for the icy cold of Canada.
But Vancouver has been a kind city to the South Africans and they will approach the tournament – which takes place from February 21-23 – refreshed and with newfound vigour.
This is so sneaky!😳#HSBCSVNS pic.twitter.com/fS3MhzQYdX
Their dismantling of Fiji in the Perth quarter-final with some brilliant ball skills and defending should be the blueprint on which they build for the next couple of tournaments.
The South Africans didn’t just live off counter-attack opportunities, but they punished the flying Fijians with their type of rugby style.
Slick handling, running on the weaker tackling shoulder, hitting gaps and excellent ball protection at the breakdown saw Snyman’s troops outplay the Islanders, while not conceding any points in that game.
It was a pity they could not produce the same spectacle against Australia and Spain as they searched for a podium place.
Relive some of this wekeend's action 🏉#BlitzBoks #HSBCSVNSPER #PoweredByUnity pic.twitter.com/vfZ5NDE3Fi
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) January 27, 2025
But if they can replicate the Fiji game against the Kiwis, Irish and Yanks, the battle for glory in Canada will be half-won going through the group stages.
The New Zealanders will be their first target in the opening match (Friday February 21, 10.02pm SA time) and this could set the tone for the Blitzboks’ tournament.
Captain Selvyn Davids – who was SA’s top points-scorer in Perth with six tries – and his team will face Ireland on Saturday February 22 (3.29am SA time) and USA (9.36pm) in the final pool match of the day.
It’s a three-day tournament, so that wait in between matches is another thing the South Africans will have to get used to as they build towards Vancouver.
They will be eager to improve for a podium place in the second tournament of 2025.