Latest news with #SpringbokSevens'A
IOL News
23-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Blitzbok coach Philip Snyman praises depth-building efforts after Rugby Africa Sevens triumph
Blitzbok head coach Philip Snyman was happy with the Sevens 'A' side's victory in the Africa Cup Sevens in Mauritius at the weekend. | Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Blitzbok coach Philip Snyman feels the mission to build depth in South Africa's Sevens ranks is well on track after the Springbok Sevens 'A' squad claimed the Rugby Africa Sevens Cup in Port Louis, Mauritius, on Sunday. They beat Madagascar 26-12 in the final at Labourdonnais Sports Club. Earlier on Sunday, they overcame Zimbabwe 19-12 in the semi-finals and defending champions Uganda 26-0 in the quarter-finals. 'This was a good effort, and I am happy with the way the squad applied themselves and executed their duties,' said Snyman. 'We had eight players who are uncapped at HSBC SVNS level and they all fitted into the system and the team as the tournament took shape. We wanted to give those players proper match time, as it does take a tournament or three before you are ready for the world series, and they responded well. Sebastiaan Jobb (with ball) helped lead the Springbok Sevens 'A' squad to glory at the Rugby Africa Sevens tournament in Mauritius at the weekend. He praised the tournament as a platform to blood new players. Image: World Rugby Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'The African teams are very physical, which is always a tough challenge, and then we encountered Madagascar – who play like Fiji with their offloads – in the final, so that was a valuable learning curve for the new players.' Snyman admitted that the display was far from flawless, despite going unbeaten. The Springbok Sevens 'A' side started sluggishly in the pool stage, opening with a cagey 17-5 win over Nigeria. The experience of co-captains Mfundo Ndhlovu and Sebastiaan Jobb then came to the fore. Two tries in quick succession by Ndhlovu broke Zambia's resistance in a 33-14 win. Jobb followed that with a hat-trick in the 31-0 win over Burkina Faso in the final pool match. 'It definitely was not perfect, but we got the answers that we came to get out of this tournament. So I think it was a good tournament, especially with all the youngsters that we had, building depth in our squad,' Snyman said. 'One of our objectives was to build depth in the team and give the youngsters the opportunity to play and to know exactly what it is and how it feels to play in a world series event. That's what we achieved out of this weekend. There were a lot of mistakes, but a lot of positives, too.'
IOL News
22-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Springbok Sevens ‘A' side crowned champions at Rugby Africa tournament
Sebastiaan Jobb (with ball) helped lead the Springbok Sevens 'A' squad to glory at the Rugby Africa Sevens tournament in Mauritius at the weekend. The Springbok Sevens 'A' side beat Madagascar 26-12 in the final of the Rugby Africa Sevens at the Labourdonnais Sports Club in Mauritius on Sunday afternoon to be crowned continental kings. The South Africans had enjoyed a tentative start to the tournament, with pool victories over Nigeria, Zambia and Burkina Faso on Saturday's first day. But they grew into the competition with every passing match, also accounting for last year's bogey team, Uganda on Sunday morning. They booked their place in Sunday's decider with a hard-fought 19-12 win over Zimbabwe's Cheetahs in the first semi-final, courtesy of tries from co-captains Mfundo Ndhlovu and Sebastiaan Jobb. That match was an extremely physical encounter that descended into an arm wrestle in the second half but the Springbok Sevens 'A' side – a blend of youth and experience – held their nerve, to prevail. The exciting Madagascar side had beaten Kenya in their semi-final to book their place in the decider. Ndhlovu had been a potent attacking weapon for the South Africans over the weekend, and was arguably the player of the tournament for Phillip Snyman's side. His class again shone through in the final, as did Jobb's and Ricardo Duartee's, with 'Tricky Ricky' often living up to his name in igniting South African attacks and dictating play.
IOL News
21-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Springbok Sevens ‘A' side ends Rugby Africa Sevens pool stage on high after slow start
Ricardo Duarttee brought loads of experience and his trademark trickery to the Springbok Sevens 'A' side in Mauritius at the weekend. Image: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix The Springbok Sevens 'A' side slowly warmed to their task in the pool stage of the Rugby Africa Sevens at the Labourdonnais Sports Club in Mauritius on Saturday, with victories over Nigeria, Zambia and Burkina Faso. The South Africans began the tournament with a 17-5 victory over Nigeria's Black Stallions in a scrappy, error-strewn opening match where they struggled to find their rhythm or assert themselves on their opponents. It took one moment of brilliance – a dummy pass from the energetic Ricardo Duarttee, or 'Tricky Ricky' – to send Joel Leotlela over in the right-hand corner for the only score of the first half. Flyer Sebastiaan Jobb had an almost immediate impact off the bench in the second stanza, his converted try after 11 minutes stretching SA's lead to 12-0. Personal goals and team objectives will need to combine if South Africa want positive results at the Rugby Africa Sevens in Mauritius this weekend - more here: 👊#PoweredByUnity #Blitzboks — Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) June 20, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The Nigerians hit back two minutes later to reduce the lead to 12-5. It was no more than their endeavour deserved, even if they were guilty of schoolboy handling errors at times. Masande Mtshali had the final say for the Springbok Sevens 'A' side. He dotted down in the right-hand corner after some good inter-passing as the favourites seemed to have finally woken from their slumber. There would be no further additions to the scoreline but Philip Snyman's charges will have been left with plenty to ponder going into the second match of the tournament. The South Africans started the second pool match against Zambia far better than the first, a foot in touch denying Grant de Jager the early score. But a few minutes later, they made the most of turnover ball on the Zambian tryline for Joubert Schoeman to score. The Zambians levelled the score at 7-7. But their joy was short-lived, after Schoeman rose high and collected the ball off the kick-off to canter over the whitewash. The game seemed headed for a thrilling second half after Zambia fought back to draw level again before half-time (14-14). However, the class of the South Africans finally told. Mfundo Ndhlovu showed great strength, shrugging off tackles and powering over the line as the Springbok Sevens 'A' side eventually ran out 33-14 winners. Mfundo Ndhlovu showed off all his skills for the Springbok Sevens 'A' side on the opening day of the Rugby Africa Sevens in Mauritius. Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers
