Coach Sandile Ngcobo has backed Blitzbok rookies Ricardo Duarttee and Masande Mtshali to hit the ground running at the second leg of the 2022-23 World Sevens Series, starting on Friday.

The Springbok Sevens squad changed considerably from the one that played in Hong Kong, with the uncapped Duarttee and Mtshali among the six new players that travelled to Dubai, but Ngcobo said it was needed and expected.

“There was a need for a rejuvenation of sorts on the cards anyway – we are in transition with players and new faces were always going to come in,” he said.

“I think the potential impact of those new players was the main factor for us, what they bring to the team and what we were looking for in that regard. We wanted to bring in some game breakers and we will see how that will go.

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“The two uncapped players, Ricardo and Masande, fit the criteria we wanted in both of their positions. Masande brings height, speed and is very coachable. He is a warrior.

“Ricardo is very dynamic and fast, has a high work ethic and pays attention to detail, so he will do well.”

Ngcobo also mentioned Dalvon Blood, who will make a second appearance for the Blitzboks after his debut in Toulouse in May: “Dalvon brings speed and is a particularly good finisher. He has actually been around for a while now and just had some bad luck with injuries. He is very willing and does not mind hard work, so we are excited about his contributions.”

The coach also has a clear vision when it came to South Africa’s pool opponents.

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“Great Britain as the opener is ideal. We wanted a tough start, and it does not get much tougher than that, as they have beaten us in Hong Kong. But we came here to fight and do battle and that is the perfect opportunity to start the tournament,” he said.

Great Britain (70), South Africa (67) and Kenya (40) were in the bottom five with points scored in Hong Kong (compared with the top five who all scored 140 points or more), but the new energy and speed in the squad will change that, added Ngcobo.

“We would like to execute the basics and have it done well. With the versatility in this squad, if the basics are done well, we will achieve our aim for day one, which is topping our pool,” he said, adding that their objectives for Friday are clear,” he said.

“Getting the basics done well, using the game changers and then day one will look after itself.

Blitzboks’ pool A schedule, Friday, 2 December

9:34am, Great Britain
1:20pm, Kenya
6:33pm, Australia