• Kok: Strength in depth did it for Blitzboks

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    Werner Kok has attributed the Blitzboks’ stunning 29-24 LA Sevens Cup final win over Fiji to great depth in the Springbok Sevens set-up.

    Down 19-0 at one point and needing to score two tries in the last 30 seconds of the match, the Blitzboks completed a miracle comeback to stun Fiji 29-24 to be crowned LA Sevens champions.

    It was truly a team effort with both veterans and youngsters making valuable contributions to get over the line.

    Reflecting on what transpired in Los Angeles, Kok – who played in his 50th World Sevens Series tournament and was also part of the team who launched a similar comeback against the same opposition in Singapore last year – praised the high-quality player pool at coach Neil Powell’s disposal.

    ‘Our depth is amazing – we have so many young players in the system who are playing so well,’ Kok said.

    ‘We had some very experienced guys in the squad, such as Branco du Preez, Chris Dry, Cecil Afrika and myself, but the younger players’ talents are amazing. They are really playing well and the results are there to prove it.’

    At the moment, the Springbok Sevens team is without the services of veterans Seabelo Senatla, Rosko Specman, Dylan Sage, Ruhan Nel and Kwagga Smith, who all made the switch to 15s rugby, as well as Siviwe Soyizwapi, Justin Geduld (both injured) and Zain Davids (rested). South Africa also lost former captains Kyle Brown and Philip Snyman in quick succession in recent months, with the duo retiring from the game.

    And yet, the Blitzboks remain one of the top-three most consistent teams in the world, along with New Zealand and Fiji, both teams who have yet to proof they can deal with such a massive player drain.

    Kok believes the youngsters who have been elevated from the academy to the senior squad have proven that they belong and can hold their own against the best teams in the world.

    ‘These younger guys are all keen to be part of the squad for the Olympic Games and they are really laying down a marker. That is good news, not only for the Olympics, but also the rest of the World Series,’ said Kok.


    Photo: @Blitzboks/Twitter

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    SA Rugby magazine