Philip Snyman praised the Blitzboks' resilience after their Perth Sevens triumph, saying belief and discipline powered a vital win over Fiji that revived South Africa’s HSBC SVNS title hopes.
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The Springbok Sevens head into the North American leg of the world series fresh from victory in Perth that took them to second in the standings behind Fiji, but head coach Philip Snyman has made it clear that past success counts for little.
Veteran Siviwe Soyizwapi led a relatively untested Blitzbok team to a rare victory on Australian soil on the last stop, which was preceded by a fourth-place finish in Singapore.
Rather than simply sticking with a winning combination, Snyman has opted for rotation – a move driven as much by workload management as by tactical ambition and the need to expand the player pool.
The Blitzboks travel to Vancouver (March 7-8) and New York (March 14-15) with a retooled squad that reflects a careful balance between continuity and long-term planning. Regular captain Impi Visser returns to lead the side as he edges closer to his 50th world series tournament, bringing calm authority to a group that blends experience with fresh energy.
However, the most telling selection shift is in the playmaking department. Selvyn Davids, Ronald Brown and Dewald Human all return from injury, restoring what Snyman described as “senior playmakers” to the spine of the team.
While Luan Giliomee and Renaldo Young enjoyed memorable debuts on the Perth/Singapore swing, the presence of the returning trio offers composure and direction in tight contests.
“It’s exciting for the leg ahead of us,” Snyman said. “It’s a well-balanced squad with experienced guys back and youngsters coming through.”
One of those youngsters is Grant de Jager, the uncapped Mpumalanga product who earns a first call-up after impressing for FNB Maties in last year’s Varsity Cup and gaining exposure with the Springbok Sevens ‘A’ side. Snyman has been vocal about the 21-year-old’s work ethic, describing him as “extremely talented” and deserving of his opportunity.
The changes also underline the bigger picture. Zain Davids and Ricardo Duarttee have been rested as part of workload management, while Zander Reynders remains sidelined with a shoulder strain. Quewin Nortje and Jaydon Nell, both returning from long-term injuries, narrowly missed out – a sign of what Snyman calls “competitive excellence” within the squad.
That internal pressure could prove decisive in a challenging Vancouver pool featuring New Zealand, Spain and Great Britain. Fiji, Australia, Argentina and France lie in wait on the other side of the draw.
“We take nothing for granted,” Snyman stressed. “It’s a brand new tournament, a new team and we need to start from scratch.”
Springbok Sevens squad for Vancouver and New York:
1 Christie Grobbelaar, 2 Ryan Oosthuizen, 3 Impi Visser (captain), 7 Ronald Brown, 8 Selvyn Davids, 10 Dewald Human, 11 Siviwe Soyizwapi, 12 Shilton van Wyk, 15 Donavan Don, 16 Sebastiaan Jobb, 19 David Brits, 24 Tristan Leyds, 28 Grant de Jager, 35 Gino Cupido.