Blitzbok coach Philip Snyman feels the opening pool match of the Vancouver SVNS against New Zealand on Friday will set the tone for the rest of the pool matches.
The Springbok Sevens open their campaign at BC Place against the All Blacks at 10.02pm on Friday (SA time). Their second pool match is against Ireland at 3.29am on Saturday (SA time) and the third against Australia at 9.36pm on Saturday (SA time).
The Blitzboks are fourth in the overall log table on 44 points. Fiji, Argentina and Spain are level on 48 points.
“We had a look at the log and we know where we stand,” said Snyman ahead of their opening match.
“And if you look at the three teams ahead of us – Fiji, Spain and Argentina – we’ve beaten all three of those teams. So I think our most important game will be the first game against New Zealand.
“They’re a great quality side, even though in the last couple of tournaments they struggled a little bit. But we know they’re a proud nation when it comes to rugby and they’re one of the leaders in world rugby, so they’ll definitely bounce back.
“We need to be at our best in that first game. I think if we can get over that hurdle I think we have a good plan laid out. And we can take a lot of confidence (into the games) against Australia and Ireland later in the tournament.”
Snyman is excited about the opportunity to build depth in the team at a tournament SA won in 2019 and 2021, but where they have been poor of late.
“One of our season goals is to build the depth in the squad and you can’t do it if you pick the same 13 players the whole time,” he said.
He is expecting the two players returning to the Blitzbok fold, playmaker Tristan Leyds and speedster Sebastiaan Jobb, to bring a fresh injection of energy to the team.
Leyds was one of the stars of the victorious campaign in Cape Town in December. Jobb last played for the Blitzboks almost two years ago.
“They will bring a lot of pace off the bench if they get their opportunity, especially with the artificial grass that we’re playing on and the very quick field,” Snyman said.
“We’re building depth in our squad but still have that continuity with that same starting line-up that we had in Perth in the final rounds. We’ll take a lot of confidence out of that.”
The Springbok Sevens got off to a flyer in Perth, before losing narrowly against the hosts in a dramatic semi-final.They also fell to Spain in the third-place play-off.
The intention will surely be to build and sustain the early momentum in Canada. That is why the opener against the All Blacks is shaping up as crucial for Snyman.