Honest conversations helped Springbok Sevens side 'put respect back in the jersey'

Ryan Oosthuizen has lifted SVNS trophies across the globe, but the latest triumph in Australia ranks amongst his finest.

For the veteran forward, the Blitzboks’ 21–19 victory over Fiji in the Perth final on Sunday was less about his Player of the Final performance and more about a squad holding itself to a higher standard of accountability.

The 30-year-old, celebrating his 60th World Series tournament, was the architect of the win at HBF Park, crossing the whitewash twice in a pulsating encounter. It secured South Africa’s second title of the 2026 series following their home success in December.

“The Cape Town victory was the best ever for me in the 15 tournaments where I have been part of the winning squad, but this effort in Perth comes very close and ranks in the top five,” Oosthuizen reflected.

The victory served as a vital "convincing rebound" after a frustrating fourth-place finish in Singapore. In the wake of that disappointment, where individual errors plagued the team's structure, the Blitzboks engaged in blunt, honest conversations. The consensus was clear: they had been their own worst enemy.

For Oosthuizen, the final carried an extra layer of motivation. Having suffered two narrow pool-stage defeats to Fiji in consecutive weeks, the forward admitted he made the rematch personal. "We have set out to build the best sevens system in the world, and in those defeats, we didn't play to our standard.

There was some off-the-ball stuff in those matches, so we had a point to prove. We put respect back in the jersey."

His performance underscored Philip Snyman’s philosophy of "effort and execution." By eliminating the discipline issues that saw them reduced to five men in previous rounds, the Blitzboks proved that when they are "on song," they are a match for anyone.

The team returns to South Africa via Singapore on Tuesday morning. After a brief period of recovery with family, the focus will shift immediately to the final legs of the series in Vancouver and New York. With the Blitzboks now just four points behind Fiji at the top of the standings, the 2026 title is well within reach.

“We worked incredibly hard in pre-season, and these wins are the reward for those hours toiling away,” Oosthuizen concluded. “I’m looking forward to getting home, but then we get back to work. The job is not done.”