Impi Visser: 'When the big moments came we were ready '

Impi Visser praised the Blitzboks’ ability to stay in the big moments for their success in Cape Town.

Over the weekend the 30-year-old and his teammates picked up their first win of the HSBC SVNS season in emphatic fashion.

After South Africa topped Pool A on Day 1, Visser and the Blitzboks faced off with Argentina in the DHL Stadium final, where they won 21-19.

Unbeaten all weekend Philp Snyman’s side were also able to defend their Cape Town crown from a year ago.

“We managed to do that and when the big moments came we were ready for it and could handle it – that was the difference today,” Visser said.

There were plenty of parallels to 2024’s success. Last year the Blitzboks had scrubbed out of Cape Town early too and needed an instant response on home soil. Finishing top of the log certainly ticks that box in style.

Shilton van Wyk was in the form of his life at the weekend and capped off the home tournament with a Player of the Match gong in the final.

It was also the first time that veteran Blitzbok, Christie Grobbelaar, was able to lift silverware in Cape Town, while Nabo Sokoyi provided key contributions on his debut.

After the two legs of the new season South Africa are joint-top of the World Serie standings with Fiji and New Zealand.

“We wanted to come back and rectify things as we did not do justice to the jersey last weekend,” Visser said.

“This weekend, playing very tough opponents and beating all of them, proved that we believe in the jersey and what it stands for.

“Credit to every player who was involved, but also to those in the extended group, who helped us prepare for these last two weekends.

“They deserve the accolades just as much as we do.”