Blitzboks keen to discard novice tag
Experience may not be one of the tools in the Springbok Sevens’ armoury as they attempt to win the Hong Kong Sevens for the first time, but the team is determined to use the other attributes that could lead to glory as they look to stay ahead of the hunting pack.
The Blitzboks have an eight-point lead on the log table as they enter the seventh of 10 tournaments in the World Sevens Series, and with no less than five debutants in the squad, few are banking on them to go all the way.
Nine regulars are currently in Stellenbosch preparing for the Commonwealth Games, and the young guns realise the potential impact they could have.
Playmaker and flyhalf, Selvyn Davids, said the focus should be on the squad in Hong Kong.
“I made my debut here last year. Unfortunately, I picked up an injury that ended the season for me, but other than that, it was a highlight in my career. I was nervous, but thinking back, there was no need for that. You just go out and play. The coaches select you for a reason, so it is important to reinforce their faith in you,” the former Down Touch Griffons player said.
“This time around I have tournaments under the belt and I will be urging the debutants to enjoy the moment, and not fear it. They are talented enough to make us a competitive side out there.”
Another senior in the squad, Zain Davids, said there is no difference in his role as one of the leaders in the group.
“The most important aspect when we run out to face South Korea on Friday will be to play as we have trained. We need to trust our processes, trust each other and make sure we play for one other. If we do that, things will go well.” leg, can’t wait to see what he and his young teammates can do on the “biggest stage”.
“There’s loads of boys with potential. I think the thing you will see when you watch the team is that a lot of the boys are stepping in and mirroring different players,” said the 19-year-old.
“You’ve got people like George Chatterton, he’s a forward and you kind of look at him and think ‘he looks a bit like James Rodwell when he plays’.
“Everyone has a trait of the senior players, whether it’s a bit of Dan Bibby in them or Dan Norton. It will be interesting to watch, that is for sure.”
The England team were in good spirits at a mini-rugby clinic at Hysan Place on Sunday and Sirker says they’re loving being on the road together. and a Six Nations grand slam in the bag, Dardis says there is a confidence in the camp ahead of the World Series qualifier.
“For us, we’re supporters and we’re delighted. It’s massive for Irish rugby and it gives us a bit of confidence and hopefully we can do a job this weekend as well,” he said.
That job – to qualify for the World Series – would have seemed laughable only three years ago when Ireland didn’t even have a sevens programme.
But their rise has been rapid and, while the code has been gradually gaining recognition, Dardis knows a berth on the World Series will make people stand up and take notice, maybe even some of the country’s biggest names.
“Maybe we might see the likes of [15s stars] Andrew Conway or Keith Earls coming down, that’d be pretty cool and they’d add a lot anyway,” he said.
“It would be a tasty prospect to take a year out and travel and do something new. It’s obviously very exciting, the whole sevens circuit.
“That attractiveness might pull over a few but we’ve got 20 or 30 lads in the sevens programme at the moment that won’t let them in that easy.”