As the Springbok Sevens gear up for the highly anticipated first tournament of the World Rugby SVNS Series in Dubai, they are intent on returning to a gameplan centred around a robust defensive structure and capitalising on turnover opportunities.
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The Olympic bronze medallists are poised to cement their dominance on the first leg as they chase a remarkable sixth consecutive title in the desert city.
The Blitzboks will face tough competition in the group stages today, with their initial clash against the formidable Australians (9.58am). Following this crucial opening match, they will also take on African neighbours Kenya (12.58pm) and Olympic champions France (6.44pm), looking to book a place in the quarter-finals.
Head coach Philip Snyman believes that a solid platform against Australia is essential for the team's prospects over the course of the day.
“This season we want to make sure we dominate in defence to create pressure points that could lead to turnovers.”
“This season we want to make sure we dominate in defence to create pressure points that could lead to turnovers,” Snyman said.
“Turnovers will give us more ball in hand to put tries on the board. So, everyone must have clarity in their roles. The forwards must make the hits and get the turnovers to get the playmakers in play. We have the speed on the outside.”
With preparations having been diligent and thorough over the past week, the Blitzboks are keen to replicate their previous success in Dubai while also setting the stage for a successful season ahead.
The #Blitzboks are ready for @Dubai7s says coach @snymanphilip
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Snyman affirmed that the team wouldn’t deviate from their tried-and-tested strategy.
“We want to lay a good and solid foundation. We want to have more ball possession than Australia and then punish them with ball in hand.”
He underscored the importance of focus, especially in their opening, highlighting that distractions could prove detrimental at this stage.
The head coach reiterated that doing the basics well, including maintaining ball possession and making significant progress over the advantage line, will be vital to building confidence.
“We can't look further than first game.”
“We can't look further than first game. If we have a solid foundation, we can build towards Kenya and France. There is a clear message and structure with everyone on the same page.”
With numerous changes across the circuit in terms of coaches and players, Snyman knows the importance of concentrating on their own game, ensuring that the strategies they have been working on throughout the last months are effectively implemented on the field.