Late change for Blitzboks as they travel to Spain

Ronald Brown has been forced out of the Springbok Sevens squad for the HSBC SVNS World Championship tournaments in Spain and France, with Ricardo Duarttee, also a sweeper and no stranger to the national setup, called up to the travelling group that departed for Europe on Sunday.

Duarttee was a member of the victorious squads in Cape Town and Perth, where he kicked the match-winning conversion against Fiji, as the Blitzboks romped home in the HSBC SVNS Series.

For Duarttee, the late inclusion means that he will also be involved in the South African charge to the HSBC SVNS World Championship crown in Valladolid and Bordeaux. The Blitzboks won the first of three events in Hong Kong last month and are leading the standings that will determine the overall winner early next month.

His recall felt like a prayer being heard, Duarttee said: “The highs of Perth aside, I was not in a good place then and had to take some personal responsibility to improve on some of the decisions I was making at the time.

“It took a while, but I managed to do that. I had some self-reflection and my change in attitude was for the better. I am very grateful for this belated opportunity, and I hope I can deliver the performances and role in the team that is expected of me,” he added.

Blitzbok head coach Philip Snyman earlier recalled Gino Cupido and Dewald Human to the travelling squad.

Meanwhile, if has been confirmed that several Blitzbok squad members not selected for this trip will be playing in invitational tournaments in Europe in the next two weekends.

Grant de Jager, Siya Ndlozi and Rowan Malgas will play for Shogun in the Amsterdam Sevens on 6-7 June, while Juan Smith and Renaldo Young will be in action for the Titans at the same event. Malgas, Smith and Young will also play for the Titans in the EAAST invitational tournament in Haguenau, France next weekend.

SOUTH AFRICA’S POOL A FIXTURES (SA times, all matches live on SuperSport):

Friday 29 May

12h34: Great Britain

17h08: Kenya

Saturday, 30 May

13h23: Australia

SPRINGBOK SEVENS SQUAD (with HSBC SVNS stats):

#2 Ryan Oosthuizen - 63 tournaments, 285 points (57 tries)

#3 Impi Visser (captain) - 51 tournaments, 240 points (48 tries)

#4 Zain Davids - 58 tournaments, 255 points (51 tries)

#5 Ricardo Duarttee - 23 tournaments, 372 points (25 tries, 121 conversions, 1 penalty goal)

#8 Selvyn Davids - 47 tournaments, 793 points (107 tries, 129 conversions, 1 penalty goal)