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'Right now we are two points off': Belgium maintain top four ambition
By Joe Harvey
Belgium Men’s Sevens have reaffirmed their ambition to finish in the top four of HSBC SVNS 2 after Montevideo and São Paulo tournaments.
Last month in Kenya the Wild Dogs finished fifth after losses to the USA, Kenya, Uruguay and Germany. Their sole win of the tournament came against a Canada team that beat Belgium t0 the HSBC SVNS 3 title in January.
The next fortnight will be a decisive one for all 12 teams that travel to Uruguay and Brazil. A podium finish is still very much on the cards for Belgium, who start their tournament against Uruguay on Saturday before matches against Germany, Kenya, USA and Canada.
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“Fortunately we get to keep the core group of the squad,” Jeff Williams, Belgium Men’s Sevens head coach, said on Instagram. “We’re bringing in some new players. We’re not a full-time programme so we don’t have the luxury of just having who we want.
“When you look around the team you’ve got school teachers, you’ve got baristas, you’ve got PTs – these guys all work and for them to take off two weeks and not get paid it’s a challenge, but we love that.
“We’re currently sitting 13th in the world. For a team sport in Belgium it’s quite high and it’s an Olympic sport. It’s a little bit like David versus Goliath. We love that. That’s what we live for.
“We have everything we need to make that top 12. Right now we are two points off. It’s extremely realistic. The players know what the intensity is like now. [We have] 10 games now and we can pick up points everywhere. Any team is beatable.
“Germany showed that. They beat everyone and they really struggled against us in that last game. They deserved to win, but we showed the world that we can compete and we deserve to be there.”
After this weekend’s tournament in Montevideo all 12 teams will travel to São Paulo for the final round of SVNS 2 competition.
Finishing in the top four of the overall standings will secure teams with a place at HSBC SVNS World Championship events in Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux.
Belgium Men’s Sevens squad for Montevideo & São Paulo
Gaspard Lalli
Hugues Bastin
Isaac Montoisy
Lindberg John Ekendahl
Marius Dehoust
Martin Marenne
Miguel Fachada
Nicolas Bulte
Ryan Godsmark
Samuel Couplan
Timothe Rifon
Tornike Megrelidze
Victor Andre
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