Blitzboks coach wants to stop the rot after Canadian flop: 'Losing can become a habit'

Springbok Sevens coach Sandile Ngcobo says they are determined to stop the slide after a horror North American leg in the World Rugby Sevens Series.

The Blitzboks finished 13th at this past weekend's Canada Sevens in Vancouver.

A draw to France and then defeat to Argentina meant that the Blitzboks could not get out of their pool, and things then went from bad to worse when they lost to African neighbours Kenya in their ninth-place quarter-final. 

They then beat Canada 31-14 and Japan 17-5 to at least claim 13th spot.

South Africa also performed poorly at the LA Sevens the previous week where there they were hammered 45-5 by Samoa in the fifth-place semi-final.

After the past weekend's flop in Canada, Ngcobo said they needed to stop the rot as they depart to Hong Kong for the next tournament in only three weeks.

"When we get back to the training field, our first focus will be to perform again," said Ngcobo.

"Winning is a habit and I suppose losing could become one too if you don't get out of that hole. We have been spiralling downwards at certain moments and that is bad for us.

"There were some good moments, and we did create good opportunities, but then we could not capitalise on them." 

In Vancouver, the Blitzboks were without the services of playmakers Selvyn Davids, Ronald Brown, Dewald Human, Justin Geduld, Shaun Williams and Jaiden Baron.

Their absence was felt, Ngcobo admitted.

"We are struggling with so many of our playmakers not available due to injury - we are currently playing with our number eight and nine players in those positions - which has a big influence on our attack," lamented Ngcobo.

"We will be analysing what and who went wrong and why and act accordingly. It starts with management, and I will be in the front