The Springbok Sevens team came back from 19 points down to draw against France (19-19) and then scored six tries against Japan (40-12) to finish Day One of the HSBC Canada Sevens on a satisfying note at BC Place in Vancouver on Friday (Canadian time).
The Springbok Sevens team arrived from the USA in a cold Vancouver this week battered and bruised, having lost four of five matches at the HSBC LA Sevens last weekend, while Jaiden Baron, Masande Mtshali and Travis Ismaiel returned home after picking up injuries last weekend that ruled them out of action.
Those who watched last weekend's HSBC LA Sevens would have been excused if they wondered which masked player the Springbok Sevens team had on the field, but they would probably have been more puzzled on what Blitzbok team was on display as one the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series premier participants stumbled and slid through a weekend of disappointing results.
SA Rugby Sevens ‘A’ squad members Noegh Hayward and Gurshwin Wehr will join the Springbok Sevens team in Vancouver on Wednesday and will make their HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series debuts at BC Place on the weekend at HSBC Canada Sevens.
The Springbok Sevens squad remained amongst the top four contenders of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at the halfway stage of the competition, but failed to fire on the second day of the HSBC LA Sevens at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday.
The Springbok Sevens will face Fiji in the Cup quarter-finals of the HSBC LA Sevens later on Sunday after an eventful first day of sevens at Dignity Health Stadium in Los Angeles.
Impi Visser believes the Springbok Sevens team are good enough to come out on top at the end of the 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and according to the Blitzbok forward, everyone in the squad are willing and able to give it their all at the HSBC LA Sevens, the sixth of 11 tournaments in the series, this weekend.
They have a track record of performing in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and there are quite a number of achievements in the Springbok Sevens’ set-up and history, including five tournament victories on American soil, but for Philip Snyman there will only be tears at this weekend’s HSBC LA Sevens if the effort from the South African side is lacking.
Springbok Sevens captain Siviwe Soyizwapi can’t be blamed for feeling like a tourist guide in Los Angeles this week.
Travis Ismaiel will complete a national team trifecta at the HSBC LA Sevens next weekend after being named in the Springbok Sevens squad that will contest the North American leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in the USA and Canada later this month.