Blitzboks determined to bounce back after recent struggles

After the disappointment of the Sevens Rugby World Cup and a poor showing in the first leg of the Sevens World Series in Hong Kong over the weekend, the Blitzboks are determined to bounce back at the next two tournaments in Dubai and Cape Town.    

After ending joint seventh in Hong Kong, the Blitzboks returned to South Africa and their base at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport with the news that playmaker Ronald Brown won't feature in the next few tournaments due to a hand injury that will require surgery.   

Captain Siviwe Soyizwapi admitted that their performance in Hong Kong wasn't good enough for a side that's been at the top of the Sevens game for an extended period.  

"They are the people who stuck with us in good times and bad times, but we now had three bad tournaments in a row, and that is not our standard, nor is it the reward we want to give to those who supported us in numbers over the last years," Soyizwapi said.

The Blitzboks winger is well aware that the Cape Town Sevens kicks off in 30 days and that SA fans might start doubting their team, but he assured them that they were looking to make things right. 

"We are close to fixing things," he said.  

"Obviously, the changing of coaches had an impact on the flow of the side, and we did not play as well as we could in Hong Kong, but we will fix this. We will come back refreshed and more determined than ever next week and work very hard to become a title contender again." 

Soyizwapi said the Hong Kong experience once again reminded them that execution, teamwork and a healthy team culture were the cornerstones of previous campaigns that were very successful. 

"That was not the way we wanted to start the season, but we normally have a good run when it comes to Dubai and