JOHANNESBURG – Blitzboks record try-scorer Seabelo Senatla said winning back-to-back tournaments was the perfect way for him and Kwagga Smith to end their current involvement in sevens.
Senatla and Smith will now join up with the Stormers and Lions respectively for the upcoming Super Rugby competition.
“I am not gone forever, so would say it was a great way to press pause in my sevens career,” said Senatla, who has scored 189 career tries since becoming a Blitzbok in 2013.
Senatla, the current World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, was named Player of the Final in both the Wellington Sevens and Sydney Sevens, and scored 17 tries in these two tournaments.
“I am at a good place at the moment and very fortunate. Moving to 15s is a nice challenge, though, and something I am looking forward to,” Senatla said.
Smith said the team played to their strengths in beating USA, Australia and England on Sunday to win the title.
“Here is a great winning culture and we are a band of brothers. We went out there today and played the way we wanted to play. It is sad to go, but it will always be sad to leave this team and there will never be a right time.”
Senatla and Smith were named in the tournament Dream Team in Wellington and Sydney, with teammate Justin Geduld joining them in Sydney.
Springbok Sevens captain Philip Snyman was also full of praise for the two departing players. “We know they will do well in Super Rugby, they will be back one day and then they will just slot back into the band of brothers. We wish them well.”
Snyman was pretty pleased with the two wins.
“We have played great rugby over two weekends and we achieved everything we wanted to. We cannot ask for more.
“In the final, we played like we planned. Our defensive system was great and that paved the way. We have something pretty special going, but only hard work will keep us there.”