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Blitzboks debutant Quewin Nortje on the cusp of Dubai SVNS ‘dream’
Quewin Nortje’s first SVNS event couldn’t have been scripted any better up until this point. South Africa are off to the big dance in Dubai with the rising star shining bright this weekend.
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Playing at The Sevens Stadium in front of a passionate crowd that seemed to favour the South African side, the Blitzboks have overcome every challenge that’s come their way so far.
After beating Samoa in the first round of pool play on Saturday, the Blitzboks brought their A-game to a 35-14 demolition of Canada – with one young talent standing out.
Nortje crossed for his first two tries on the SVNS Series against the Canadians, and the South African added another to his career tally against New Zealand later on Saturday night.
In a team full of superstars, Nortje has been a point of difference in key moments as the Blitzboks march ever closer to yet another Dubai SVNS title.
“It would be a dream come true,” Nortje told RugbyPass when asked what it would mean to take out the Cup final in Dubai.
“From a young age, watching those guys win in Dubai – and one of my friends who is also the same age won it last year and said it’s just amazing, especially the flight home.
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“It would be a dream come true.”
South Africa survived a slight scare earlier on day two as they overcame a valiant Australia side 24-7 in the opening match of play on Sunday.
But their biggest challenge awaited them in the next step. With one team standing in the Blitzboks’ way of their first Cup final since January, they needed to be at their very best.
That team was Fiji. South Africa needed to be close to their best to get the job done in this highly anticipated semi-final, and they were pretty close to that standard on a sweltering afternoon.
Tries from Justin Geduld and Maande Mtshali proved to be the difference as the Blitzboks dispatched one of their traditional sevens rivals 14-7.
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“An amazing performance from the boys, especially against Fiji – you know how they play,” Nortje said.
“It’s just a massive performance from the guys. I’m really excited for my first final.
“From a young age watching (Seabelo) Senatla and all the guys play against Fiji, it’s just amazing to be a part of it now with Rosko (Specman) and Justin (Geduld) and all those boys.
“It’s just amazing.”
Nortje is one of two debutants in the Blitzboks’ group for Dubai with forward Katlego Letebele also named in the star-studded squad.
But the headline-grabbing inclusion of returning great Rosko Specman has certainly piqued the interest of sevens fans the world over, and it seems the 31-tournament veteran is having an impact on young Nortje.
“It’s a dream (to play alongside some of the greats). The way they help you at training and especially in games.
“After the first game against Samoa, Rosko came straight to me and he told me, ‘Against big guys who must do this.’
“It’s just amazing. All the advice I get from them is just improving me a lot in my games.”
Comments on RugbyPass
What a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
2 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
40 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
41 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
41 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
41 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
40 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
2 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
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