Restoring pride

South African rugby followers needed a good news story and how the Sevens team provided it at the weekend. After a year of disappointing results in the Test arena – where Allister Coetzee’s Springboks won just four times in 12 outings – fans would have been feeling despondent and angry as 2016 draws to a close, but thank goodness for Neil Powell’s Sevens heroes.

After finishing as runners-up to Fiji in the 2015/16 series – having won just their home tournament in Cape Town almost a year ago and losing three finals – it was hoped the BlitzBoks would kick on in the new series, which started in Dubai last weekend. Well, they did more than that. They went through the tournament unbeaten to lift the trophy in style, beating last season’s winners Fiji in the final. But it was the 40-0 hammering of New Zealand in the quarter-finals that was the impressive and memorable performance of the tournament. Powell’s men were sensational in every department and we can only hope they repeat it in front of their home fans this weekend.

Under new captain Philip Snyman and with stars like Werner Kok and Seabelo Senatla, the Sevens Boks are a team to be proud of. They didn’t quite hit top form at the Rio Olympics, winning bronze, but right now they’re showing the world you can’t keep South African rugby down for long.