The big question around the Springbok Sevens’ performance in Hong Kong last weekend will be answered in the National Stadium in Singapore on Saturday. Was it just a bad day at the office or are the Blitzboks losing momentum in HSBC SVNS?
For Philip Snyman, who shouldered the blame for their ninth-place finish in Hong Kong, it was a case of the first and he believes the performances by the Blitzboks in Singapore will show that.
“We have done well in recent months, and we were getting a lot of things right,” Snyman said after the team's final preparations for the weekend.
“Last weekend was a massive setback in that growth spurt, but it also gave us time to reflect on what went wrong.
“We are still on track with our long-term goals, to finish in the top four of the series and blood new players and expand the player base, so there is no need for panic with the way our season worked out.
“The disappointment was more about us unexpectedly dropping our standards, but it was clear from the reviews done that the guys accepted it was not our best effort and the training sessions this week were really good and full of purpose.”
Snyman said the team will be up for it when they face Great Britain and Argentina in their pool on Saturday morning (SA time): “We will be better, that is a given. The guys will be up for it. I am expecting a much better attacking performance as well, where we will focus on retaining possession much better.”
Snyman said the two new arrivals, Sebastiaan Jobb and David Brits, brought good energy from South Africa, and he is expecting a good contribution from both.
“It was also good for the rest of the squad to welcome the guys, that lifted the spirits no doubt,” he said. “This is in our hands to bounce right back up and everyone is determined to do so.”
SA pool schedule in Singapore (SA times):
Saturday 5 April
7:26am: Great Britain
10:44am: Argentina