[Listen to audio of Justin Geduld here.]
The record books will reflect that South Africa won the last two HSBC SVNS tournaments in Spain – Malaga and Seville in 2022 – and for Justin Geduld, playing in his 60th world series tournament for the Blitzboks this weekend, those achievements can be repeated.
The experienced flyhalf played in both tournaments two years ago, and although he suffered a serious knee injury in the second, Geduld is eager to set boots onto Spanish soil again and come away with more Cup memories as the 2024 series concludes with the Grand Finale in Madrid.
“The injury in Seville was a bad one for me and took me away from the game for quite some time, but I am very happy to be back here in Spain again,” said Geduld as the Blitzboks went through their paces in sunny Madrid.
“Injuries are part of the game and at the time, I did not realise how long it was going to take me to get back.”
At the time of his injury, Geduld just played his 50th tournament in Malaga and will only now compete in his 60th, such was the effect of the injury on his career.
“The injury is a thing of the past and the positive was that it extended my career with the Blitzboks,” he said. “I can now actually try and get to a third Olympics with the team.”
In 2016, Geduld was part of the squad that won bronze and in 2021, he was back again when they finished just off the podium in Tokyo, where South Africa placed fifth.
The Blitzboks will play in the Olympic repechage tournament in Monaco next month and although that is very much on the radar of the squad, they will use this final HSBC SVNS opportunity to fine-tune their game even more, as they are getting to grips to the changes expected and implemented by interim-coach, Philip Snyman.
“We are all very keen to play in that tournament, but for now, we need to use this opportunity to show we are the right players for that one too,” said Geduld.
“There is a strong belief in the squad about our capabilities and what is needed to be successful. Things are coming together nicely, and the improvement is there for everyone to see.
“We enter the tournament with clarity about our plan and how we want to play this weekend. If we execute well, we will be successful in Spain again.”
The Blitzboks will face Ireland, Fiji and New Zealand in pool play this weekend.
Skylark
Muttiah Muralitharan holds the record for the most wickets in ODI cricket (534) and the most number of Test wickets (800). Murali is the only cricketer to capture over 100 Test wickets at three events. He has also been awarded the most number of Man of the Series in Test cricket.
Steel Heart
Cricket became an Olympic sport in 1896. However, no matches were held because there was an insufficient number of teams who attended. Had the sport been played that year, cricket would have earned the distinction of being the only team sport to be played at the time. The first Olympic match in the next Olympics (1900) was participated in by the men’s teams. Great Britain (represented by the Devon and Somerset Wanderers) won gold.