Coach Neil Powell had to break the news to a pair of disappointed Blitzboks who didn’t make the final squad for the Sevens World Cup.
Powell announced his squad of 12 players on Wednesday, with Ryan Oosthuizen and James Murphy missing out. Captain Siviwe Soyizwapi will lead the side, which includes returning veteran Cecil Afrika.
Nine players will debut at a Sevens World Cup, with Afrika, Soyizwapi and playmaker Selvyn Davids the only players who have previously appeared at a World Cup.
Springbok Women’s Sevens coach Paul Delport also trimmed his squad to 12 players and Asisipho Plaatjies and Kirsten Eastes will not play for the Springbok Women’s Sevens this weekend.
The Springbok Women’s Sevens team will be captained by Sizophila Solontsi.
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The Springbok Sevens squad (with RWC & World Series stats):
Cecil Afrika – 2013 RWC; 66 World Series tournaments (1,462 points)
Ronald Brown – RWC debut; 8 World Series tournaments (285 points)
Angelo Davids – RWC debut; 9 World Series tournaments (160 points)
Selvyn Davids – 2018 RWC; 27 World Series tournaments (564 points)
Muller du Plessis – RWC debut; 20 World Series tournaments (315 points)
Christie Grobbelaar – RWC debut; 8 World Series tournaments (70 points)
Sako Makata – RWC debut; 16 World Series tournaments (60 points)
Mfundo Ndhlovu – RWC debut; 10 World Series tournaments (60 points)
JC Pretorius – RWC debut; 20 World Series tournaments (225 points)
Siviwe Soyizwapi (c) – 2018 RWC; 40 World Series tournaments (670 points)
Impi Visser – RWC debut; 21 World Series tournaments (115 points)
Shaun Williams – RWC debut; 7 World Series tournaments (80 points)
The Springbok Women’s Sevens squad (with RWC & World Series stats):
Marlize de Bruin – RWC debut; 1 World Series tournament
Nolwazi Hlabangane – RWC debut; 1 World Series tournament
Felicia Jacobs – RWC debut; 1 World Series tournament
Lerato Makua – RWC debut; 1 World Series tournament
Unathi Mali – RWC debut; 2 World Series tournaments
Ayanda Malinga – RWC debut, 1 World Series tournament (10 points)
Zintle Mpupha – 2018 RWC; 6 World Series tournaments (40 points)
Simamkele Namba – RWC debut
Nadine Roos – 2018 RWC; 5 World Series tournaments (79 points)
Mathrin Simmers – 2013, 2018 RWC; 14 World Series tournaments (35 points)
Sizophila Solontsi – RWC debut; 2 World Series tournaments
Eloise Webb – 2018 RWC; 5 World Series tournaments (7 points)
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Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
