Still bouyant from a dominating tournament victory in Canada last weekend, the Springbok Sevens arrived on the East Coast of the Unites States of America on Monday afternoon determined to repeat their heroics this coming weekend at the HSBC SVNS New York.
The USA event will be the final in a series of six and with South Africa and Fiji tied at the top of the log, the world series title is in reach for the Blitzboks.
According to Ronald Brown, the leading points scorer in Vancouver last weekend with 31 points, they will return to ground zero this week as they fine tune their final charge to the series trophy.
“We have a lot to play for so getting back to zero is important,” said the playmaker after a gym following their arrival.
“We will have a target on our backs and we need to make sure we start afresh. We are still chasing that perfect game, and we cannot rest on our laurels.”
Brown attributed the tournament win to a team effort and the depth of experience amongst the playmakers in the squad: “We have big forwards, so keeping them on the front foot is important and that is part of the backs’ role to keep them in the game. That is where we come into play.
“I am also lucky that the guys in my position really push hard to make everyone better. Amongst ourselves we are really competitive and that help to bring out the best in everyone. Guys like Dewald Human, Tristan Leyds and Selvyn Davids often encourage me and that creates a very good enviornment in the team.”
Brown is not shy to make a dart for the line himself as his three tries in Vancouver showed.
“I am a playmaker first and that job is to create opportunities for others, but if the gaps open up at the same time, I am going to play what is in front of me,” he said.
“I do tend to do rush things and go from zero to a hundred, so credit to our flyhalves, Dewald and Tristan, for calming me down and making sure we stay with our game plan.”
Brown, who returned to the side after a shoulder injury in Cape Town in December ruled him out of the Singapore and Perth events, was happy to have bounced back in Vancouver, where he won his very first title on debut in 2021.
“The medical team have really worked wonders back at home, especially Nadia Clenzos, the physiotherapist, and our team doctor Janesh Ganda, who worked tirelessly to get me back on the field again and thanks to them, I was ready to play when called upon.
“To make my return with a win was even more special as I missed out on the final day in Cape Town due to my injury then and I could not really enjoy that victory as much.”
Sun Lemon
In 71 Tests, Martin has scored 123 runs, while he has 233 wickets to his credit, on the other hand Chandrasekhar has 167 runs to his name along with 242 wickets.
Prez Dog
None Knows What Happened to Hansie Cronje: People who have been following South African sports for a long time must know that Hansie Cronje was behind match-fixing in 2000. Soon after the dark secret got revealed, he died in a plane crash in 2002. Many experts say it was a planned murder by the criminals behind the scandal. But due to lack of evidence, none can prove the actual cause of death, and it still lingers in the history of South African sports as one of the biggest mysteries.