Sevens Boks ‘a real band of brothers’

– The London Sevens tournament will provide the Blitzboks with a final opportunity during the current season to showcase their skills and to play together as a team, so they want to deliver a good result.

This is according to playmaker Rosko Specman. South Africa face Kenya, Wales, and the US today in Pool A of the tournament, the final one of the World Rugby Sevens Series.

Specman, who proved to be a real talisman for the World Series champions in 2017, appreciates the fact that this will be the last opportunity for this current squad to play together.

“We have been training since September last year and have been in each other’s company since then, so we have established a wonderful bond,” said Specman.

“We really are a band of brothers. This tournament will be the last for this group to play together and we want to make it special.”

South Africa clinched the series when they won their fifth tournament in Paris last weekend and will officially be crowned champions tomorrow, another motivation for the team to give it one more push.

Last year, the Blitzboks came to Twickenham still within the grasp of the overall series title, but Fiji gained enough points to retain the series trophy. South Africa made the final, but suffered a heart-breaking loss when Scotland

London

scored the winning points after the final buzzer.

Specman has often swung the momentum of tight matches towards South Africa with his attacking prowess and was named Player-of-the-Final in Las Vegas.

“Those accolades are great, but it remains a team effort. I still want to go out and make the tournament’s Dream Team, but my responsibilities within our structures will come first,” said Specman, who scored 17 tries this season, including a spectacular one in the semifinal of the Paris Sevens against New Zealand last weekend.

The team’s leading points’ scorer of all time, Cecil Afrika, credited the coaching staff for much of the success the team has enjoyed.

“They really put a foundation in place for us, with the preparations. We just need to go out and execute that,” Afrika said.

The Blitzboks come up against the Kenyans at 12.20pm, Wales at at 3.29pm and the US at 6.32pm. – Own Correspondent

Heinz Schenk

Contrary to what certain people think, assembling an international team is not about picking the best players. Well, not always. Rugby, because of all its injuries, is a sport where a coach invariably needs to pick the best players at his disposal.

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee is in this position with his flyhalves before next month’s series against France.

We all know Lions pivot Elton Jantjies is the first-choice candidate to wear the No 10 jersey and rightfully so.

He’s been solid this season and played in nine Tests last year.

However, when you mention a deputy for him, the waters become muddy.

Handre Pollard injured his ankle a few weeks back and is doubtful, while Pat Lambie’s future is in doubt after he sustained concussion again last weekend.

Given Lambie’s long battle with it last year, there must be fears for his long-term health.

As a result, an unlikely name has popped up: Kings skipper Lionel Cronje. It’s a pretty crazy story. The 27-year-old journeyman has been at the Stormers, Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Brumbies.

He didn’t make a mark at any of those sides.

Unsurprisingly, many chuckled when Cronje was plucked from obscurity to play for the Kings in Super Rugby this year.

But he has responded magnificently. Should we be surprised? Yes and no. Cronje was somewhat of a prodigy at age-group level and a Junior Springbok.

The fact that so many prominent sides took a chance on him previously also suggests they saw something in him.

Cronje certainly can’t be considered a world-beater.

In fact, we can’t be sure if he has suddenly realised his hidden talent or if he’s merely having the season of his life.

However, it’s crucial that he be included in the Bok group.

Coetzee is in a position where short-term results matter.

The axe is, apparently, still hanging over him and he needs to win the series against France to secure his future.

Surely then it’s only rational to pick South Africa’s only red-hot flyhalf in Super Rugby to date?

One can never underestimate the short-term benefits of picking a player who’s in the form of his life.

So, even if Cronje is only part of a squad for three Tests his entire career, it would still be worth it.

Picking him isn’t cheapening the Bok jersey.