Blitzboks are ready to play

SPRINGBOK Sevens captain Siviwe Soyizwapi says they are “ready to play” in what he is expecting to be a very competitive weekend in Toulouse.

The seventh leg of the World Sevens Series at Stade Ernest-Wallon kicks off today, with the defending series champions grouped with Samoa, Ireland and Spain in Pool D.

While the Blitzboks had a last-minute setback in Cape Town - with Selvyn Davids withdrawn on medical grounds - the South Africa captain was more than happy with what they managed to get done during training this week.

Neil Powell's team will, of course, be looking to bounce back from their disappointments in the last two tournaments, in Vancouver and Singapore, where they finished seventh and fifth.

“We will play similar type of teams again,” said Soyizwapi.

“We had Samoa and Spain in Vancouver and play Ireland this time as well. They are all good teams in our pool, so we are looking towards a very competitive weekend. Spain showed us how well they can keep the ball alive in our previous encounter and we will not take them lightly.

“Ireland have been doing very well in recent times and have been together as a team for a while now, so they are formidable opponents.

“Samoa's physicality proved a challenge for us last time around, so we need to be better when we face them this weekend. We have prepared well though and are looking forward to the weekend.”

The Toulouse tournament could also provide a significant milestone for SA's most capped player, Branco du Preez.

Du Preez, who is playing in his 80th tournament, has run onto the field 400 times already and scored no less than 1 409 points for the Blitzboks.

“Yes, I don't need to be reminded of that, that is something I really want to achieve,” said Du Preez.

“Stats are irrelevant when you contribute towards the team, your try will

come sometime, so I am not going out looking for it. We all have a job to do on the field and if everyone does that properly and I am in the right position, the try will come.

“Make no mistake, stats matter for a player and I would like to score 100 career tries, but my job at hand comes first when I play for the Springbok Sevens.”

Du Preez missed the tournaments in Singapore and Vancouver due to a shoulder injury.

6.28pm: Spain

Tomorrow

12.22pm: Samoa

Pools:

A: Argentina, England, Canada, Japan B: Fiji, France, Wales, Kenya

C: Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, USA D: Samoa, South Africa, Ireland, Spain Springbok Sevens squad for the Toulouse Sevens:

1. James Murphy 2. Ryan Oosthuizen

3. Impi Visser 4. Zain Davids 5. Tiaan Pretorius 6. JC Pretorius 7. Branco du Preez 8. Dalvon Blood 9. Ronald Brown

10. Dewald Human 11. Siviwe Soyizwapi 12. Muller du Plessis 13. Mfundo Ndhlovu *