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.
Springbok Sevens coach Sandile Ngcobo heaped praise on his players after the Blitzboks made it into the last four in Australia, where they will face Fiji in the semi-finals of the HSBC Sydney Sevens on Sunday.
James Murphy has joined the Springbok Sevens squad in Australia on Monday to replace injured teammate, Selvyn Davids, for this weekend's HSBC Sydney Sevens, the fifth tournament in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
The Springbok Sevens team dropped two close results at the HSBC New Zealand Sevens on Sunday and finished in a disappointing seventh place at the FMG Stadium in Hamilton, as well as sliding to fourth on the overall HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings for the 2023 season.
A late try by Zain Davids against Argentina ensured that the Springbok Sevens team finished the opening day of the HSBC New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton unbeaten as they progressed to the quarter-finals with three wins in Hamilton on Saturday.
The Blitzboks know they have to be switched on and ready to deliver as they aim to continue their growth as a squad at the HSBC New Zealand Sevens this weekend, said Springbok Sevens captain Siviwe Soyizwapi. (more…)