‘We really stuffed up our season’

Co-captain Impi Visser backs the Blitzboks to make amends for their disappointing Hong Kong campaign at this weekend’s Singapore Sevens.

Pool defeats to Australia and New Zealand saw South Africa fail to qualify for the quarter-finals in Hong Kong.

Beating Uruguay and Kenya on Sunday to finish ninth was small consolation for a team that is fourth on the World Rugby Sevens Series standings with 66 points, behind Argentina (88), Fiji (76) and Spain (74).

“We really stuffed up our season,” said Visser on Wednesday. “Before Hong Kong we were still in the hunt for the overall title, but that has slipped through the net now and that is frustrating, as we have been doing well in recent tournaments.

“We have another go at the Grand Finale in Los Angeles later, but we had our eyes on the series as well, so it was a huge disappointment.”

Visser says it was clear why they were unsuccessful in Hong Kong.

“We hardly had the ball – the stats show how little possession we had and for a team with so many great attacking threats, that is just not going to work, as sevens rugby is all about possession.

“We did not look after the ball when we had it, and we could not get the ball away from the opponents. Those are the work-ons this week.”

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Visser insists the Blitzboks have what it takes to bounce back in Singapore.

“If we implement what is expected, we will be successful, we have seen that in the past,” he said.

“Look, it is tight on the circuit and anyone can beat anyone on the day, but we know we can be a tough opponent if we do things well. And that is exactly what our focus will be this weekend.

“This is the last tournament of the series [before the Grand Finale] and we are determined to go out with a bang. Don’t count us out.”

MORE: Brits, Seb join Blitzboks for Singapore job

Blitzboks’ Pool A schedule in Singapore:
Saturday
vs Great Britain (7.26am)
vs Argentina (10.44am)

Photo: Will Russell/Getty Images