DUBAI // Seabelo Senatla, the world player of the year, said South Africa had touched perfection on their march to the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens title on Saturday night.
The Blitzboks beat the reigning World Series and Dubai champions Fiji in a dominant display in the final.
That followed earlier success over Wales, in the semi-final, and a crushing 40-0 win over New Zealand in the last eight, which Senatla referred to as “the perfect game of sevens”.
Senatla himself was as good as unstoppable, touching down 11 tries over the course of the weekend, including the one that provided the exclamation mark to the 26-14 win over Fiji.
The Boks, who averaged 31.3 points per match over the course of the tournament, have finished second on the series for the past four seasons.
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They head to their home competition next weekend with expectations soaring that they can build a title-winning campaign this time around.
“Momentum means a lot going into our home tournament, because there is a whole lot of pressure behind it,” Senatla said.
“There is a huge amount of expectation back at home. Every time you put on the Springbok jumper, there is always massive pressure behind it.
“It is the one opportunity we have to play at home, in front of friends, family, and our fans. We just want to make people proud.”
The idea that the sevens side can make their countrymen proud is a pertinent one, given the 15-a-side game in South Africa is currently on its knees.
Neil Powell, the coach, said his team want to “help bring the people of South Africa together” through their successes in the abridged version.
“It is tough times in the XVs,” Powell said. “There is a transition time where a lot of senior guys have left, and there has been a change of coach, and it will take some time to get them up again.
“The people must be patient, but the Springboks will definitely be a power again in the near future. We just focus on what we need to do.
“We want to be successful, we have a lot of pride in our system, and if we can do well, that will help bring the people of South Africa together.”
Powell was quick to remind his players that they will not be starting from “plus-five” next time they take the field, in Cape Town next weekend.
“We have confidence, expectation and pressure together,” Powell said of the forthcoming second leg of the series.
“I think it is going to be key for us to get this out of our system, close this door, and start building again on Monday.
“It is good we have some momentum, but we have to start all over again when we get home. We have to start from zero.”
A runners-up finish was one short of what has become expected of Fiji, given their all-conquering feats in recent years.
However, their side was much changed from its last outing, the gold medal win at the Rio Olympic Games, while they also have an interim coach for the first two legs of the series.
Naca Cawanibuka, who is holding the fort between the departure of Ben Ryan and the arrival of Gareth Baber in February, said his side will be stronger for their experiences in Dubai.
“We lost to a very good South Africa team,” Cawanibuka said.
“We panicked when we shouldn’t have, and South Africa capitalised, as they have done the whole weekend. We will go back and review, and hopefully come back stronger next time.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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