Rosko ready to spread the magic for Blitzboks again

Rosko Specman will make his comeback for the Blitzboks, returning on a short-term deal that will add much-needed experience to a team that's blown hot and cold of late.

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Specman, a stalwart in the sevens game a few years ago, made the step up to the 15-man game, representing the Bulls, Cheetahs and Griquas. He also played one Test for the Springboks against Georgia in 2021.

Specman was more than happy to be back for the Sevens national squad as they prepare for an Olympic qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe in September. 

"It felt great when I arrived this morning knowing that I will be working very hard with this squad with no guarantees. All those years ago, when I arrived here for the first time, I was nervous about not making the team, but in the end, I did.

"This time around, I feel the same pressure, as there will be no guarantees for me getting into the squad again. But, like last time, if I work hard and apply my talent, I will be in contention again," he said on Thursday.

The talisman wing and sweeper - a two-time World Rugby Sevens Series winner with the Blitzboks and a bronze medallist at the 2016 Olympic Games - played the last of his 30 tournaments for South Africa in December 2020 before moving to fifteens.

"That was the right move at the time, and I am grateful for everything that came my way in fifteens," he said.

"The foundations I got from sevens made that transition easy, to be honest, as there are certain values in this system that stay with you when you go to fifteens. Just have a look at how well the sevens guys are doing in the Bok set-up, they had a solid foundation."

It isn't 'back to square one' in representing the Blitzboks,