Blitzbok flyer Rosko Specman scored a thrilling hat-trick as the Springbok Sevens team kicked off their HSBC Sydney Sevens campaign with an emphatic 50-0 victory over Papua New Guinea on Friday.
Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell was buzzing with the team’s performance, delighted by the eight-try spectacle. However, he was quick to remind fans that with Spain and England still to come in Pool C, the challenges are only just beginning for the Blitzboks as they prepare to face these strong opponents on Saturday.
“Spain is a side that’s rapidly progressing,” Powell said.
“They bring serious quality to the sevens game, so we’ll need to reset and work hard when we meet them on Saturday. It’s crucial to establish our rhythm early for the rest of the day.”
Specman fired across tries in the 2nd, 8th, and 11th minutes, with Ruhan Nel slotting in two, alongside touchdowns from Seabelo Senatla, Stedman Gans, and Cecil Afrika. The boot was well managed too, with Justin Geduld adding four conversions and Afrika one.
“My message to the squad was to keep the structure tight, and I was pleased with this win as PNG tends to punish any lapses in defence,” Powell noted.
“We had the luxury of making changes at halftime and getting everyone involved to build fitness, which was a bonus.”
The Springbok Sevens team enter this event as reigning champions, with the Sydney tournament being the third of ten in the prestigious HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
South Africa’s Saturday schedule, 27 January (SA times):
- 06h03: Spain
- 09h14: England
Image © Gallo Images
