Snyman to lead Blitzbokke

Philip Snyman runs before scoring a try against Australia during their Sevens World Series final rugby match in Dubai. File Photo: Ahmed Jadallah

Philip Snyman runs before scoring a try against Australia during their Sevens World Series final rugby match in Dubai. File Photo: Ahmed Jadallah

Published May 6, 2016

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Cape Town - The Springbok Sevens squad will have a new captain in the Paris Sevens next weekend, with Philip Snyman appointed as the skipper in place of Kyle Brown.

Blitzbok coach Neil Powell explained in a statement on Friday that he was looking to rotate players in the last two legs of the World Sevens Series in Paris and London a week later.

Part of that process is to give Snyman another chance to lead the team after he took charge in Wellington and Sydney earlier in the season, when Brown was injured.

Powell made four changes to the squad for the Paris tournament, with Snyman, Francois Hougaard, Rosko Specman and Dylan Sage all back in the mix, with Siviwe Soyizwapi, Branco du Preez, Chris Dry and Stephan Dippenaar dropping out.

Veteran Frankie Horne didn’t make the final cut as he is still working his way back from a long-term injury, but may be considered for the London Sevens. Bryan Habana was not available due to a hamstring injury, while the likes of Damian de Allende, Warren Whiteley and Jaco Kriel have withdrawn from the sevens scene as they want to concentrate on the 15-man code.

But Powell will be glad to have Hougaard back in the side after the former Bulls scrumhalf spent a few months with English club Worcester Warriors.

The Blitzboks are second in the World Sevens Series standings on 139 points, eight behind Fiji on 147 and four ahead of third-placed New Zealand on 135.

So, while the Rio Olympics is the main focus for 2016, the South Africans will be going all out to win the World Series for only the second time in history.

“It is important for us to do well and try and win the series, but we also need to look at the welfare of regulars with Rio in mind, so I am planning to replace a number of these guys travelling to Paris for the London tournament,” Powell said.

“We have built good depth in the squad and with a number of players really pushing hard for a starting spot, I feel comfortable that we can rotate some players in the next two weeks and still remain very competitive. We came close on many occasions during the series and we need to keep on believing.

“It is going to be tough to overhaul Fiji at the top of the standings, but we are still in it with two tournaments to go. That was one of our objectives at the start of the 2015/16 series.”

The Blitzboks leave for Paris on Sunday and will face Australia, England and Brazil in Pool B.

Springbok Sevens Team (with number of tournament caps)

Ryan Kankowski (6), Philip Snyman (35, captain), Tim Agaba (5), Kwagga Smith (23), Francois Hougaard (4), Kyle Brown (54), Dylan Sage (5), Rosko Specman (11), Justin Geduld (25), Cecil Afrika (42), Seabelo Senatla (29), Ruhan Nel (10).

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