Blitzbokke start new season with clean slate

THE familiar refrain from the Blitzbokke that last season’s World Series success had been left in the past‚ continued yesterday when captain Phillip Snyman reiterated that the slate had been wiped clean.

The Blitzbokke begin the defence of their Sevens title in Dubai tom the now traditional first leg of the World Series‚ against Uganda. On paper SA should comfortably brush their African counterparts aside‚ but for Snyman there is more to it than that. They need to also show improvements and lay down an immediate marker for the rest of the tournament and for the season ahead.

“We already left last season behind when we started our new preseason camp‚” Snyman‚ who will play his 48th tournament‚ said.

“The focus now goes to that first match against Uganda.

“Dubai has been a happy hunting ground for us in the past‚ but this is a new season and everyone is starting with fresh minds and bodies.

“Even our squad‚ as experienced as we are‚ came back together with new energy and new vigour.

“We will see a lot of the teams more settled this season‚ with not as many new faces and coaches as was the case last year when we started the season here in Dubai.

“So it is definitely going to be tougher this time around. We need to be at our best from the start.”

One player who is back this season is Ruhan Nel‚ after a successful stint with Western Province‚ which ended with a Currie Cup winner’s medal. He is relishing the chance to play the shorter version of the game again.

“Fifteens certainly helped me improve my contact skills and physicality‚ while I found it easier to identify space and to get my defensive alignment correct‚ thanks to my Sevens experience‚” said Nel.

Nel performed very well for the Blitzbokke last season‚ playing in all 10 tournaments and becoming a regular starter for the team‚ so it is not surprising that he is looking for another solid contribution.

“It is always an honour to play for the Blitzbokke, and this new season brings new challenges‚” said Nel.

“We also have the Commonwealth Games and the Rugby World Cup Sevens this season‚ so it is very easy to be motivated.”

● The SA Women’s team will also compete in Dubai. Although not a core team on the World Series and playing on invite‚ South Africa will compete in the Commonwealth Games in March and have qualified for the Rugby World Cup Sevens‚ to be played in San Francisco in July next year.

With those events as motivation‚ it will be important for them to play well‚ says captain Veroeshka Grain. — DDC