‘We have the right guys to fit Sevens culture’

AS the 2015/16 Sevens season comes into focus, BlitzBok coach Neil Powell has taken the step of recruiting key players from the longer version of the game to enhance the chances of success.

Already former 15s Boks Francois Hougaard (Bulls No 9) and Ryan Kankowski (Sharks No 8) have been placed on fulltime Sevens contracts while others such as centre Damian de Allende (Western Province), eighthman Warren Whiteley (Lions), flanker Oupa Mohoje (Cheetahs) and legendary wing Bryan Habana (Toulon) will also be in the mix through the course of the season.

The main focus between now and next August is the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where rugby makes its return to the event, this time in Sevens format, for the first time in 92 years.

With that as the end goal, recruiting the best possible playing talent — and not only Sevens specialists — has been a priority in the off-season for Powell. But blending them into the system without promising anyone a place among the final 12 for Rio will be his biggest challenge.

“We identified players that we believed had all the attributes to play Sevens,” he said.

“It was a long process of contacting the players and working through the unions to secure their releases at various times.

“In terms of skill set we were looking for all-rounders. They need to attack and defend, have passing skills and they need speed and physicality. There were position-specific skills we looked at as well. It’s a wide range of aspects, including culture and the right attitude.”

Powell added: “Off the field we have a strong culture of working hard for a common goal and working together. We have the right guys to fit the culture, which was already evident on the first day of coming together.

“There weren’t those awkward silences that can sometimes happen when Sevens and 15s players initially mix.”

Sevens stalwart Kwagga Smith is not concerned that high-profile 15s players will just walk into the side and take his, or another long-time Sevens players’ place. They’ll have to earn it.

“The team will benefit from the addition of these 15s guys because you can’t lie down, you are going to have to earn your spot everyday,” Smith said.

“For them it will also be a difficult transition. It inspires me because I know if I make the team now, I’m the best because so many top players were in the mix.”

Powell believes that the addition of key 15s players will add to the team, not detract from it, and a player such as Habana will be a vital influence.

In terms of skill set, we were looking for allrounders. They need to attack and defend, speed and physicality

“Bryan Habana will fit into the culture brilliantly because he doesn’t believe in seniors and juniors and is always willing to jump in and do some dirty work,” Powell said.

“His experience as a rugby player and of playing big events will also be useful for youngsters to tap into.

“We need to do whatever we can to get the 15s guys up to speed quickly. We have put all our presentations on software for them to go through it and by doing that hopefully we’re a long way to already getting them up to speed with the game plans and structures.”

Mohoje is excited at the prospect of trying to make it in the Sevens, but knows that he will have to alter his game.

“Normally in 15s you have about seven metres to cover on defence, but in Sevens it’s closer to 12m,” Mohoje said. “You have to be fitter to do that but also still find the balance for being able to play 15s.”