The Blitzboks will be hoping to carry the momentum from their historic win in Hong Kong into the second World Championship tournament in Spain this weekend. The South African team currently sits at the summit of the HSBC SVNS World Championship standings, but captain Impi Visser believes there is little value in dwelling on what has already been achieved.
Focus on the Next Challenge
Instead, the South Africans have arrived in Valladolid for the second leg of the three-stop championship series focused on ensuring they do not undo their hard work with another sluggish tournament start. The Blitzboks lead the standings on 20 points after their triumph in Hong Kong, ahead of Argentina (18), Spain (16), New Zealand (14) and Fiji (12), but Visser warned that the margins at the business end of the season are too fine for complacency.
South Africa recovered from a slow opening in Hong Kong to eventually claim the title, but Visser admitted they cannot afford to place themselves under similar pressure this weekend. They edged Uruguay 12-7 in a tense opener, were stunned 31-12 in their next pool match before recovering with a 38-0 thrashing of Argentina.
Pool A Opponents
The Blitzboks face Great Britain and Kenya on Friday before wrapping up their Pool A campaign against Australia on Saturday at Estadio Jose Zorrilla. Visser said the squad’s motivation remains rooted in the goals they set at the beginning of the season, when they committed themselves to rebuilding a squad culture capable of consistently competing for titles.
According to the World Rugby website, the Blitzboks have been working on their strategies and soft skills since the Hong Kong tournament. Visser said the squad quickly settled into the conditions in Spain, despite some travel delays. The Blitzboks have also been boosted by the return of Dewald Human, Ricky Duarttee and Gino Cupido, with the latter eager to make up for lost time after injury setbacks interrupted his season.
Here are the key points to note about the upcoming tournament:
- The Blitzboks are currently leading the HSBC SVNS World Championship standings with 20 points.
- The team faces Great Britain, Kenya, and Australia in Pool A.
- The tournament will take place at Estadio Jose Zorrilla in Valladolid, Spain.
- The Blitzboks have been working on their strategies and soft skills since the Hong Kong tournament.
Visser said the squad’s motivation remains rooted in the goals they set at the beginning of the season, when they committed themselves to rebuilding a squad culture capable of consistently competing for titles. For more information on the HSBC SVNS World Championship, visit the HSBC website.
