While leading try-scorer Seabelo Senatla has captured attention for his Blitzbok return in London this weekend‚ another key player has slipped back into the squad almost unnoticed.
Ruhan Nel‚ a vital link on attack and defence who missed the last two tournaments in Hong Kong and Singapore‚ will also bolster the team as they look to reel in Fiji at the top of the overall standings.
Fiji have 145 log point with SA second on 141. The contest for the overall winner of the 2017/18 HSBC World Sevens Series is a two horse race‚ one the Blitzboks are currently losing as they season reaches the final straight.
Nel missed the Hong Kong tournament due to preparations for the Commonwealth Games‚ and he was rested due to a heavy workload earlier in the season for Singapore.
“I am someone who always want to contribute and especially with the guys I am playing with in the Blitzboks‚ you want to be part of it‚” Nel said. “It is such a massive honour and privilege to play for this team and to play with these guys. You don’t want to miss out on that.”
Nel has played in 26 tournaments for the team after making his debut in New Zealand in 2014 and scored a hat-trick on debut. He has so far scored 47 tries in his career.
“It was hard sitting at home watching the guys play‚” said Nel.
“It was exciting to see the younger players doing so well in Hong Kong and it was bittersweet watching them in Singapore. I wanted to be there‚ but understood the reasons why I was not.
"That said‚ I am in London now and have this wonderful opportunity to be part of the team again.”
Nel said the squad realise what they have to do and how tight the race to the series title is‚ with South Africa only four points behind Fiji on the overall log.
“In the past I found that‚ when we didn’t look at outside factors‚ but rather internally‚ we play our best rugby‚” he said.
“So for us to be successful this weekend‚ we need to just look at our own process and what we need to do to achieve our goals. If we do that the results will look after themselves.”
That does not mean playing without smiles on their faces.
“No way‚ the joy to play with these guys and to play for our country is such‚ you cannot help to smile. It is just such a privilege and honour‚” said Nel.
The Blitzboks face Russia‚ Canada and Samoa in pool D.
They have never lost to Russia in 21 matches with an average score of 29-7. Against Canada‚ they hold a 43-5 win advantage (average 27-9) and against Samoa 45-21‚ with an average score of 18-13.
The Springbok Sevens fixtures for Day One is: (SA times)
10h52: Russia
13h58: Canada
17h04: Samoa
- TimesLIVE
Source: TMG Digital.
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