Senatla focused as he approaches 200 tries
Player is fifth on sevens all-time try-scoring list
Blitzboks try-machine Seabelo Senatla is putting any thoughts of individual milestones out of his mind as he approaches 200 World Sevens Series tries.
Senatla‚ who will be involved in the first four tournaments of the 10-event circuit before moving back to fifteens‚ moved to fifth on the all-time sevens try-scoring list last weekend.
He scored seven tries at the season-opening tournament in Dubai‚ and moved to 196 career tries as the Blitzboks won the title to start the defence of their world title in the best way possible.
Senatla‚ 24‚ has scored his tries at a staggering rate of more than one per match‚ with his total having being amassed in a mere 173 games.
Barring injury‚ he should break the 200-try mark at some stage during this weekend’s Cape Town Sevens.
“I don’t really think about those kinds of records‚” Senatla said.
“It’s like when I was getting close to my 100th try‚ as soon as I stepped on the field‚ all you’re thinking about is doing what you’re supposed to do.”
Senatla will take a full tilt at fifteens next year in an effort to break through at international level and become a Test Springbok.
He will play tournaments three and four on the sevens circuit in Sydney and Hamilton before returning to the Stormers for Super Rugby.
“This is still my second phase in my career‚ which is about playing more fifteens and supplementing it with sevens‚” Senatla said.
Meanwhile‚ Cape Town executive mayor Patricia De Lille said that although the city welcomes visitors to the Sevens‚ she has urged people to be mindful of the drought.
“I know that people don’t drink a lot of water at the Sevens ... they drink beer‚” De Lille said.
“We will be having messages up on the screen asking people to save water.
“We have to ask you to save water so we can get through this drought together.”