Super Afrika backs Blitzboks for the title

CAPE TOWN: Springbok Sevens alltime leading points-scorer Cecil Afrika said the team have already “forgotten” about their victorious Dubai campaign because “any team can beat anyone on any given day”.

Afrika emphasised the unpredictability of the abbreviated game after head coach Neil Powell announced an unchanged side for the Cape Town event on Thursday.

And, despite the Blitzboks’ solid performances last week, when they thrashed New Zealand 40-0 in the quarter-finals and dethroned Fiji 2614 in the final, the 28-year-old believes they will have to start all over again today because, well, it’s anyone’s game.

“Sevens is a unique game. We’ve forgotten about Dubai. It’s a new start now. So hopefully we can make the team proud and play good rugby,” Afrika said.

With all the pressure on the South Africans, not only because of their first-class Dubai outing, but also because they will be defending the Cape Town title they claimed last year, the experienced campaigner believes that Powell’s men are mentally ready for the home event.

“Our mental state is in the right place. We don’t really focus on other teams. I know you can get distracted because our family members are here, but we’re just gonna focus on what we need to do as a team and do our best here,” he added.

Afrika said the Blitzboks, who he claims are the “smallest” team on the World Sevens circuit, have to work hard to perform optimally to combat any onslaught by the opposition… a task they have taken to well.

“We are the smallest team on the world circuit so we just have to make sure, whether it’s on attack or defence, that we are mentally and physically ready, because that’s where other teams are going to target us. We have to make sure we’re at our best not to get dominated at the breakdowns or in the tackle.”

Meanwhile, new skipper Philip Snyman, who steered the Blitzboks in Dubai, also backed Afrika’s points and agreed that they will have to start from scratch in the Mother City.

“I think from that first game against Russia it’s going to be important to lay the foundation again. We’re going to have to do the small things right. So we’re fortunate we can go into this with the same team and that we don’t have any injuries.”

Snyman, who took over from Kyle Brown ahead of the opening tournament last week after having previously captained the side in four tournaments, said the appointment has been made a lot easier with the support of other leaders in the team.

“I’m fortunate to have all the leaders around me; Kyle (Brown) who’s still there and Cecil Afrika, a really good leader. So I don’t think there’s anything else expected of me.

“It was a good start. First one as captain, but it was a team effort. We all played really well. But it’s not going to happen again this weekend. We have to be at our best.”