The Springbok Sevens team find themselves in the Pool of Death for the tournament, where they will face tough competition from New Zealand, Ireland, and Australia.

Coach Philip Snyman conceded that it is a challenging pool but believes it will bring out the best in his team.

“We prefer it that way, as you need to be switched on from the start. In fact, the tougher the start, the better we perform, as we saw in Cape Town earlier in the series,” said Snyman.

“We have analysed all the teams before the season started and will fine-tune our approach once we see the squads they have selected. However, our main focus will always be on ourselves and how we want to play the game.”

Meanwhile, the Blitzboks will be without two stalwarts, with the invaluable Zain Davids and Dewald Human ruled out through injury. This has paved the way for the return of two players: Tristan Leyds, who has been declared fit for the tournament, and Sebastiaan Jobb, who makes his comeback after a two-year hiatus.

While South Africa faces a tough pool Snyman remains confident in the ability of his squad and building on the team’s depth was and is a key objective for the season.

Philip Snyman. Photo: David van der Sandt

“Both Tristan and Sebastiaan will add to the dynamics of the squad, and I know they will be very competitive in their pool matches against New Zealand, Ireland, and Australia,” said Snyman.

“Sebastiaan’s inclusion is well deserved as he has worked extremely hard over the past few months. In fact, he was already close to selection for the Olympic Games last year. He was unlucky with untimely injuries over the last couple of seasons, but he is ready to play.”

The Vancouver Sevens kicks off next Friday, with the Blitzboks set to face New Zealand in their opening game.

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