CAPE TOWN - Sevens rugby is not just about scoring glorious 100-metre tries. Sometimes you have to grind out victories - as the Blitzboks did in Las Vegas.
Springboks Sevens captain Philip Snyman said that the team were “pretty pleased” following their victory in the Vegas leg of the World Sevens Series - but he also described it as “the toughest one to win”.
The Blitzboks were faced with a confrontational Fijian outfit in the final at the Sam Boyd Stadium, while their semi-final win over the USA was no easy task either.
In the final, the Blitzboks scored three tries to Fiji’s two to beat them 19-12 and extend their overall lead in the World Sevens Series.
And in their semi-final match against the USA, the Springbok Sevens side had to come from behind twice in a thrilling match to win. And, of course, the huge home crowd and the unfriendly wind didn’t make that feat any easier.
They also had to deal with a yellow card to big-tackling Chris Dry. But the Blitzboks still managed to celebrate their fourth win in Vegas.
“This was probably the toughest one to win given the conditions, so we are pretty pleased about this. Fiji really gave us a hard final, as did the USA in the semi-finals, so we had to work very hard for this one,” Snyman said.
Just like Snyman, Blitzbok coach, Neil Powell, who praised the team for their fighting spirit in the Nevada desert, was very happy with his team’s performances during the three-day tournament.
“We have set ourselves a goal to at least reach the semifinals of every tournament in the series, so it is very pleasing that we have managed to win four of those halfway through the series. I have to compliment the players for their hard work and for the planning from management to make sure the guys remain fresh and fit and keep their appetite for winning.”
While Powell was proud of the team performance, there were also a few moments of individual brilliance, the best one being Rosko Specman’s 50-metre try in the final that involved a superb step and an even better run.
He also had a hand in both other tries, scored by Cecil Afrika and Chris Dry.
And the Blitzbok back was also named Player of the Final, an achievement he put down to good team structures and the support of his team mates.
“It is very nice to be named Player of the Final and I am proud about it, but credit must go to our system and the other guys in the squad sticking to our structures,” said Specman.
“Coach Neil Powell always make us believe that our basic system will bring success and he was proved right again.
“Everyone is just doing his job out there and I am sure other players in the squad will also be given this trophy in the future.”
Specman added that it’s easy to play with a smile on his face, because he is doing it with a “band of brothers”.
“Every player assists and gives everything he has for the team,” he said.
“Then my job becomes easy and fun. I even played on the wing at this tournament and that was as much fun as being sweeper.”
South Africa now have 107 points in the bag after five of the 10 tournaments in the Series, 24 points ahead of Fiji (83) while England (81), who were in second place after the tournaments in Dubai, Cape Town, Wellington and Sydney, dropped back to third place.
Top 5 after Vegas:
1. South Africa 107
2. Fiji 83
3. England 81
4. New Zealand 71
5. Australia 52