Brits and Jobb aim to energise Blitzboks for Singapore Sevens challenge

The Blitzboks are looking to bounce back in Singapore after a challenging outing in Hong Kong, and two fresh faces will be part of their effort to do so. David Brits and Sebastiaan Jobb have been called up to replace the injured Quewin Nortje and Gino Cupido for the sixth leg of the HSBC SVNS this weekend.

Brits, who has been on standby for a possible call-up, expressed his enthusiasm ahead of the trip, emphasising his readiness and the positive energy he hopes to bring to the squad.

“We continued with our training on this side, in case of a call-up, so I am ready and eager to go,” He said before departing from Cape Town on Monday. This will be Brits' first trip to Singapore with the Blitzboks, and he is determined to bring a positive mindset to the team after their ninth-place finish in Hong Kong.

“I will bring some smiles and lots of energy with me, that is for sure. The guys will also be happy to see a familiar face or two from home after almost two weeks on tour,” he added.

While the Blitzboks’ performance in Hong Kong fell short of expectations, Brits remains confident in the team's ability to turn things around.

“Our performances were not at the usual standard, so the mood will be down. That is professional sport for you – the highest of highs but also the lowest of lows. But they will be back. This team is good enough, as they have shown in the past, to play and win finals.”

A Familiar Challenge

The tournament format in Singapore will mirror that of the Cape Town Sevens in December, with only two pool matches per team. The Blitzboks face Great Britain and Hong Kong champions Argentina in their pool, with the four group winners advancing directly to the semi-finals.

As was the case in Cape Town – where the Blitzboks emerged victorious – they will once again go head-to-head with Argentina. Brits see no reason why the South Africans cannot replicate their previous success against the South American powerhouse.

“I prefer this format, to be honest. Playing only four games is far less taxing on your legs, but that is just my preference,” Brits noted.

“Yes, we are playing Argentina again, like we did in Cape Town, and I believe we can get the same result. They are playing well at the moment and deservedly won last weekend, but we don’t fear them as an opponent.

“We know that if we are at our best, we can beat anyone. Last weekend, we had some lapses. Teams targeted us at the breakdowns, and we battled to get decent possession. But that is done now. We will start this week with a clean slate and are determined to deliver a great result.”

Blitzboks' Schedule in Singapore (SA Times)

Saturday, 5 April

• 7.26am – vs Great Britain

• 10.44am – vs Argentina

Springbok Sevens Squad for Singapore:

• Ryan Oosthuizen – 54 tournaments, 230 points (46 tries)

• Impi Visser (co-captain) – 44 tournaments, 225 points (45 tries)

• Zain Davids – 51 tournaments, 225 points (45 tries)

• Ricardo Duarttee – 17 tournaments, 276 points (21 tries, 84 conversions, 1 penalty goal)

• Selvyn Davids (co-captain) – 40 tournaments, 719 points (94 tries, 123 conversions, 1 penalty goal)

• Dewald Human – 30 tournaments, 305 points (27 tries, 85 conversions)

• Siviwe Soyizwapi – 58 tournaments, 780 points (156 tries)

• Shilton van Wyk – 25 tournaments, 240 points (48 tries)

• Donavan Don – 8 tournaments, 59 points (11 tries, 2 conversions)

• Sebastiaan Jobb – 3 tournaments, 15 points (3 tries)

• David Brits – 7 tournaments, 40 points (8 tries)

• Zander Reynders – 4 tournaments, 0 points

• Tristan Leyds – 9 tournaments, 114 points (14 tries, 22 conversions)

With fresh reinforcements and a determined mindset, the Blitzboks will be looking to reclaim their form and make their mark in Singapore. All eyes will be on the squad as they take on Great Britain and Argentina, hoping to secure a spot in the semi-finals and, hopefully, beyond.