Soyizwapi can ‘Shake-up’ Blitzboks

Siviwe ‘Shakes’ Soyizwapi could grow into a star player for the Blitzboks. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/ BackpagePix

Siviwe ‘Shakes’ Soyizwapi could grow into a star player for the Blitzboks. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/ BackpagePix

Published Jan 23, 2017

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Cape Town - He’s already played Super Rugby, and was part of the Stormers squad as well. Now Siviwe ‘Shakes’ Soyizwapi can rediscover himself as a sevens star with the Blitzboks.

Soyizwapi showed promise as an attacking fullback for the Southern Kings during the 2013 Super Rugby competition as a 20 year old.

But after the Port Elizabeth-based team lost their promotion-relegation playoff against the Lions, they missed out on franchise rugby until last year, where chaos reigned due to administration and player issues.

All the while, Soyizwapi stuck it out with the EP Kings in the Currie Cup, with none of the other Super Rugby teams picking him up. He was once called to Cape Town by Allister Coetzee to train with the Stormers and provide back-up, but he never made it on the field of play.

But now a whole new world beckons for Soyizwapi. He is contracted to the Blitzboks, and more importantly, has been identified as the long-term replacement for World Sevens Player of the Year, Seabelo Senatla, who will join the Stormers after the upcoming Wellington and Sydney Sevens tournaments.

Of course, there is only one Seabelo Senatla, and Blitzbok coach Neil Powell has already mentioned that Soyizwapi won’t be able to match the out-and-out pace of his dreadlocked teammate.

Soyizwapi, though, showed in his six Super Rugby outings with the Kings that he has a good step, is solid under the high ball and reads the play well from the back. While he doesn’t possess a massive kicking boot, he does find his touch, although that won’t really be required in sevens rugby.

The weakest part of his game is arguably defence, but one thing about sevens is that no one can hide on the field when it comes to tackling.

So far, though, Soyizwapi hasn’t really had much of an opportunity to turn out for the Blitzboks. He has been mainly used as an injury replacement in four tournaments, which has been to the detriment of the player and the team.

The issue arose during last month’s Cape Town Sevens, when Senatla was unable to take the field in the final because of a quad strain. Soyizwapi, as the official reserve, came on to the bench, but didn’t get game time, ostensibly due to a lack of experience.

The only way Powell and Blitzboks fans will know whether Soyizwapi can become a success in sevens is through playing. This weekend at the Westpac Stadium and then Allianz Stadium in Sydney is the stage for the man from Mthatha to prove himself once and for all.

Soyizwapi said on Monday in Wellington, after a marathon journey from Johannesburg, that he enjoyed being part of the squad as the reserve in Dubai and Cape Town, but that he was looking forward to “running on to the field and bringing my part”.

It is a pity that he is not involved in the 15-man game, but the Blitzboks will provide him with an opportunity to make his name in the abbreviated format. It will be a daunting task to try to emulate Senatla, but at least the latter will be around to assist Soyizwapi over the next fortnight.

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Independent Media

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