How Mtshali found his groove in Dubai
It took him six tournaments to get there, but when former Grey High star Masande Mtshali finally scored his first try in a Blitzbok jersey last Saturday in Dubai, the 20-year-old forward almost missed this significant milestone in his short Sevens career.
The Blitzboks are wellknown for mobbing a player when he scores his first try, but for Mtshali, it was different as he seemed oblivious to what normally follows. He raced to pick up the ball he left behind the try line, passed it to Ronald Brown for the conversion and raced back to the halfway line for the next play, almost outsprinting those who came to celebrate with him.
The try was sublime. Trailing New Zealand by five points in their pool A decider, Selvyn Davids caught the Kiwis napping from a restart. He put in a grubber and retrieved the ball himself, but was held on the floor by the New Zealand defence.
Davids quickly regained his footing, took the quick tap and set off towards the try line. He found Brown in support, who found Mtshali on a superb line, with the former Junior Bok winger racing through to score under the sticks. Suddenly the scores were tied and Brown’s conversion, with time running out, sealed a first victory over the Kiwis in five outings.
The next day, Mtshali was at it again. In their semifinal against Fiji, scores were tied at 7-7 late in the match. Rosko Specman kicked ahead and a good chase followed, with Mtshali leading the charge. The Fijian sweeper fumbled and Mtshali was in for his second match-winner.
Reflecting, he said he did not realise when he scored how crucial the try was. “I did not know we were actually going ahead after that play. That is why I rushed back to get into position for the restart. Only then did I realise we were ahead on the scoreboard,” he said.
“Scoring my first try against New Zealand was also special, as they are the current series champions and had one over us in the last couple of matches. That was a good feeling, I have worked hard to make the team and the try was a good reward.”
The try against Fiji was against the run of play, but equally important, and Mtshali said he really enjoyed playing with teammates with fantastic vision.
“That kick by Rosko was a brilliant option and we delivered a good chase that resulted in the try that won us the game,” he
said. “Again, it was a team effort. But I will claim the try so it means that I have two in the bag now and looking for much, much more.”
Mtshali’s heroics, coupled with the sublime performance delivered by Quewin Nortje, justified the bravery in the selection of head coach Sandile Ngcobo, who indicated the need for younger recruits into the Blitzbok system.
Another 2023 Junior Springbok, Katlego Letebele, made his debut in Dubai and though his playing time was limited, he gained significant experience on what the Sevens is all about.
Credit is due to the management of the Blitzboks, who recovered from a tough couple of months, in which the team won 12 of 30 matches, but six out of six in Dubai showed that a ticket for the HSBC SVNS Cape Town this weekend could just become the hottest ticket in town again.
● Blitzboks prop Christie Grobbelaar has been ruled out of the this weekend’s tournament after sustaining an ankle injury.
Grobbelaar picked up the injury at last weekend's Dubai Sevens, won by the Blitzboks.
He underwent a scan in Cape Town which revealed he is unfit to play on Saturday or Sunday.
Tiaan Pretorius and Tristan Leyds were called into camp on Tuesday. Blitzboks coach Sandile Ngcobo said the squad would be trimmed to the regulation 13 players on Thursday.
SA‘s Saturday fixtures
Women: 9.44am vs France; 11.56am vs Canada; 4.38pm vs US
Men: 10.50am vs Britain; 2.12pm vs US; 7.34pm vs Ireland