Snyman ready for Hong Kong after Blitzboks 'reset'

In the past year South Africa Sevens have been crowned HSBC SVNS Series and HSBC SVNS World Championship winners under Philip Snyman. Now the coach wants the Blitzboks to rule the world again.

This weekend the new World Championship campaign begins in Hong Kong. Unlike last year  it is a three-tournament, 12 team extravaganza as teams from HSBC SVNS 2 pit themselves against Series foes.

For this weekend’s World Championship opener South Africa have been named in Pool A with Argentina, Spain and Uruguay.

Winners of four tournaments this season on their way to the Series trophy in New York City, the Blitzboks are exempt from relegation to SVNS 2, although they will not be looking to previous form this weekend.

“We did the reset and we are ready for what Hong Kong will throw at us,” Snyman said. “We had a good week, worked hard and we are ready to play.

“We also realised that something you did well in the previous tournament does not automatically carry over into the next, you have to start again as you just cannot expect things to happen, you need to work very hard to make sure your standards are the highest it can be.”

While Snyman does not want his team to ride the wave of their previous successes, he does want the team to stick to the standards they have adhered to all term.

“We have five fundamentals that we base our season on, and we have experienced success when those are non-negotiable on the day,” Snyman said.

“Effort and attitude, combined with those fundamentals brought us far this year. But we start afresh, knowing it will take an exceptional effort to be successful this weekend.

“Discipline will be key again. We don’t want to lose any players due to cards and when we have the ball in hand, we need to keep that possession. The players are focussed and ready.”