Young guns Dalvon Blood, Ricardo Duarttee and Masande Mtshali hope to use the Dubai leg of the World Sevens Series as a springboard for a successful Springbok Sevens career.
They have the most experienced Blitzbok of all time in their midst, Branco du Preez, who arrived in Dubai for the ninth time, while his juior teammates received their first UAE arrival stamps in their passport.
South Africa play Great Britain (9:34am), Kenya (1:20pm) and Australia (6:33pm) in a tough Pool A, starting on Friday.
Blood made his debut at the France Sevens in Toulouse in May, and scored four tries in Toulouse, but injured his toe at the tournament and had to return home instead of flying to London like the rest of his team mates.
But the 21-year-old wing from Cape Town is ready to embrace the challenges Dubai will throw at him. “I have to say, I felt really good at training – I felt light and fast and that is a good thing,” said Blood, a former Junior Springbok.
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“I know I can reflect back on that first tournament I played and will be more street wise this time around. I really enjoyed the tournament in Toulouse and was gutted when I was told I need to return home.
“Since then I’ve had my ups and downs, but the most important thing is that I am here now and ready to get into the matches.”
For Mtshali, a strapping 1.88 m wing in 15s but a forward in sevens, the change to the faster code was tough: “It was not easy to adapt, but it was made easier because of the support the senior guys were giving us.
“They all assisted in getting to learn all the finer details of playing sevens and also in the forwards.”
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Mtsali started the year at Maties and was soon drafted into the Western Province U20 side, but once he was invited to train with the Blitzboks, it has been one-way traffic.
“Yes, I did focus on only one thing and that is to become the best sevens player I can be,” he said. “I am still young and there is a lot to learn, but there is already the responsibility to do your best. We are playing for our country and there cannot be any doubt that it demands only your very best effort.”
Like Mtsali, Duarttee received his official training jersey at the team’s first session and for the 24-year-old, it was a very special moment.
“I don’t have words,” said Duarttee. “I worked very hard to be in this position, but I realise that this is the next level. I hope to bring lots of energy to the squad and when given the opportunity, contribute to the overall effort. It is going to be massive and I can’t wait.”
Photo: @Blitzboks/Twitter
