Cape Town – They did it the hard way, but the Springbok Sevens finally booked their ticket to the Paris Olympics Games.
When the Blitzboks defeated Great Britain in the final of the World Rugby Sevens Repechage event in Monaco on Sunday evening it was their third consecutive time to qualify for the Olympics since Rugby Sevens was introduced in 2016.
It was a great reward for the Springbok Sevens system, that they will once more go to the Olympic Games, but the real relief was that the Blitzboks’ swagger and belief were back.
In fact, according to 2016 bronze medalist and interim Springbok Sevens coach, Philip Snyman, the successful entry to the Paris Olympics, gained by winning the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco on Sunday evening, has instilled a belief that they have turned a miserable season around.
“We had some bad months, yes, but the comeback is now complete,” Snyman explains.
“We got ourselves into the mess of having to qualify via repechage, but credit to the way the players responded,” Snyman said.
“We came here knowing that defence will be the key to success and only conceded three tries in six matches. The guys deserve a lot of credit for that.”
The coach praised all involved with the lead-up to the event and said the players deserve the applause.
“We were down and out, but credit to the guys. They really deserve this and I am very pleased that we will be going to Paris.”
On Sunday (https://apo-opa.co/4exTrPJ), the Blitzboks outplayed Uganda, Canada, and Great Britain to claim the final ticket to the Rugby Sevens at the Paris Olympics.
Afterward, team captain, Selvyn Davids, praised his troops and the management for a job well done.
“The guys really wanted this. We came here well prepared, with good confidence and a solid game plan,” Davids said.
“Credit to all our opponents, especially Great Britain, who really gave us a hard time in that final.
“We knew it would be a tough weekend, but the way we responded to everything our opponents threw at us makes me a very proud Blitzboks captain.”
Meanwhile, World Rugby also announced the pools for the Rugby Sevens event in Paris.
South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand, and Japan will contest Pool A, while Argentina, Australia, Samoa, and Kenya are in Pool B.
Hosts France will face defending champions Fiji, the U.S.A., and Uruguay in Pool C.
