Pressure on for Blitzboks in Wellington
SIVIWE “Shakes” Soyizwapi believes the Springbok Sevens will need to hit their straps early in the Wellington Sevens to avoid finding themselves between a rock and a hard place.
The Blitzboks have to navigate past Australia‚ Fiji and Japan in their pool in Wellington to ensure they maintain their excellent start to the 2016-17 Sevens World Series.
They won the Dubai leg before narrowly losing the Cape Town Sevens final to England a week later.
“We saw in the Cape Town Sevens the high level of expectation and how we need to perform to that expectation‚” the Springbok sevens player said.
“On both days, the stadium was full and we could feel their [supporters] disappointment when we lost the final.
“It was a lesson we needed to learn and we know we now need to focus on the next game and not on the tournament per se.
“We know it’s going to be difficult in New Zealand because the hosts will have the bulk of the support and they’ll want to make up for the two disappointing tournaments they’ve had.
“I expect Fiji to flex their muscles significantly from Wellington onwards and they also have great support in Sydney.
“It could feel like a home tournament for them. They also tend to know when to start playing their best rugby.”
A lot will be expected from Soyizwapi‚ given Seabelo Senatla’s impending absence.
The speedster will join the Stormers after the Sydney tournament and his experience will be missed.
The Blitzboks will also be without Kyle Brown and Cecil Afrika‚ who have been floored by long-term injuries.
Soyizwapi is well aware that this will put them under pressure‚ but he is happy that they will have to prove themselves in the absence of their superstars.
“Coach Neil Powell said he could not quantify the experience lost through Kyle’s and Cecil’s injuries‚” he said.
“It’s more than 100 tournaments and that’s a lot to lose ahead of a key tournament.
“But we have enough remaining experience and skill within the squad to carry us through the rest of the series.
“We know what we’re losing in their absence, but we have to soldier on without them.”