Former Blitzbok skipper Kyle Brown believes that overall victory in the 2016/17 World Sevens Series is within grasp for SA unless they suffer a massive implosion.
The Blitzboks currently lead the series on 126 points‚ 23 points clear of second-placed England after six rounds.
There are only four rounds remaining‚ including the crown jewel of the circuit in Hong Kong next month.
The Blitzboks have been remarkably consistent this season‚ reaching all six Cup finals and winning four of the events – in Dubai‚ Wellington‚ Sydney and Las Vegas.
But as the season has unfolded the team has lost an increasing number of players to injury with Brown just one of many sidelined during the course of the campaign.
- Powell happy with his BlitzboksThe Blitzboks will regroup in the next 14 days as they prepare to win the one title they haven't captured on the World Sevens Series circuit - Hong Kong - next month.
Brown suffered knee ligament damage in round two in Cape Town and was ruled out for the rest of the year.
“The only hurdles in front of them in the next few weeks are the common issues of avoiding complacency‚ which is a mental thing‚ and secondly if injuries take their toll‚” Brown said.
“Our depth has been tested this year and it’s stood up pretty well‚ but I don't know how much further we can go. There aren’t many players left to call on back here in Stellenbosch.
"So player management is going to be essential for the rest of the season.” Besides Brown‚ injuries have affected Cecil Afrika’s season after he missed tournaments in Wellington and Sydney.
"Playmaker Justin Geduld [ankle]‚ who was in the form of his life‚ was injured in Las Vegas and in Vancouver over the past weekend.
- Depleted Blitzboks turn focus to Hong Kong after Vancouver defeatThe Blitzboks will regroup over the next 14 days as they prepare to win the one title they haven't captured on the HSBC World Sevens Series – Hong Kong – next month.
Branco du Preez and Rosko Specman both sustained injuries that could keep them out of Hong Kong.
Brown didn't see losing 19-7 to England in the final in Vancouver‚ which ended a run of three straight final wins‚ as a bad thing with the Hong Kong leg to come.
“In a way losing just eases the expectation on the team that has built up over the season and you can start afresh going in to Hong Kong.
“If the Blitzboks have two more top three finishes over the next four tournaments that should be enough to secure the title.
- Blitzboks come up just short in VancouverThe Blitzboks qualified for their sixth consecutive final of the HSBC World Sevens Series in Vancouver on Sunday night but came up short in search of their fifth victory of the season.
“Losing a final is not the end of the world in terms of the overall title. Top three finishes at tournaments and consistency are vital to win the title.
“The team are doing incredibly well at the moment and it’s all about getting into semi-finals to give yourself a chance at overall victory.
“Although Hong Kong has tradition‚ you can’t make one tournament bigger than another. They all carry the same points [in the past Hong Kong used to be worth more log points].”
- TMG Digital/TMG Sport
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