Springbok hooker Johan Grobbelaar said the Boks were bracing themselves for a full-on 80-minute battle against Wales at the Principality Stadium on Saturday in their final match of the season.
It will be almost four years to the day when a bright-eyed 21-year-old Shilton van Wyk ran onto the pitch at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai, representing the Springbok Sevens for the first time on the international stage.
The opportunity to work with world class mentors and coaches in a highly professional and productive environment was a highlight for Springbok Women assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt, who completed the second and final phase of the World Rugby Level 3 Coaching Course earlier this month.
Six tournament victories out of eight played is no mean feat, but for Ryan Oosthuizen, another go at glory at the Emirates Dubai 7s tournament this weekend could not come quick enough.
Springbok scrum coach Daan Human said he did not believe in the “favourites” tag as the team began their preparations on Monday for their final Test of the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday, and said they treated all opposition teams with utmost respect.
Shiniqwa Lamprecht has been named as captain of the Springbok Women’s Sevens ‘A’ squad, with a distinct developmental feel to it, at the International Invitational tournament of the Emirates Dubai Sevens this weekend.
Springbok lock RG Snyman was still in awe of reaching the significant career milestone of earning his 50th Test cap in the team’s 24-13 victory against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night – his home ground for Irish club Leinster – and said it was an occasion he will always remember.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus admitted on Saturday that although the Boks’ performance in their victory against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium was not perfect, they were pleased to break their 13-year winning drought in Dublin.
Double Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx became the fourth South African to be crowned the World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year on Saturday in a historic occasion for South African rugby, with two Boks winning the award back-to-back for the first time in history.
The Springboks secured a victory in Dublin for the first time in 13 years following their 24-13 win over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.