The Blitzboks’ aspirations for a medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris are in jeopardy after consecutive losses to New Zealand and Ireland on Wednesday evening. Despite the setbacks, interim head coach Philip Snyman remains optimistic about the team’s chances of advancing to the knockout stages.
In the games against Ireland and New Zealand, the South African Sevens team struggled to gain possession, forcing them to rely heavily on their defensive play to stay competitive. Snyman acknowledged the defensive effort but emphasized the need for a more assertive approach in attack.
Reflecting on the Ireland game, Snyman noted, “We had only 15% ball possession, which makes it challenging to play effectively. Despite this, we only lost 10-5, which shows how well the guys defended,” he told TimesLive. “When we managed to hold onto the ball for more than three phases, we scored.”
The New Zealand match revealed further issues, with the Blitzboks committing fundamental mistakes. “We defended well at times, but our inability to maintain possession and our ‘schoolboy errors’ were costly. It seemed like we were reluctant to attack,” Snyman remarked.
With their fate hanging in the balance, the Blitzboks must now secure a victory against Japan in their final Pool A match on Thursday at 4 pm. A win would enhance their chances of advancing as one of the two best third-place finishers in the pool stage.
Snyman urged his team to regroup and focus on the crucial upcoming match. “We need to dig deep and critically assess our performance to be in the right mental space for tomorrow. It’s still possible to reach the quarterfinals, but it’s up to us. We must come together and demonstrate the true potential of this team,” he stated.