Blitzbok call-up still sinking in for Reynders ahead of Vancouver challenge

Reynders was first called into the Springbok Sevens squad for the HSBC SVNS Cape Town in December, with the Blitzboks going on to win the title for the first time since 2015. He played mostly off the bench in Cape Town, and that was his role again just over a month later in Perth, where the Blitzboks placed fourth.

When they depart for Vancouver later on Saturday though, Reynders will have a more prominent role to play. Blitzbok coach Philip Snyman has replaced injured forward Zain Davids with wing Sebastiaan Jobb, which points to more responsibility for Reynders, a computer engineering graduate at the University of Pretoria.

"I am really excited about this tournament, knowing that I will have a bigger role to play," said Reynders, who fondly recalls watching the Sevens exploits of Kwagga Smith, Werner Kok, Seabelo Senatla, Cecil Afrika and Philip Snyman when he was a younger man.

"The Cape Town tournament was such a blur and in Perth, I picked up a shoulder niggle, which meant that I could not play the final day. That was the worst feeling, because I wasn't there when the team needed me, so I am pretty motivated for this one."

Reynders never expected that one day Snyman would tell him he would be representing his country in the colours of the Blitzboks.

"From those early days, I loved the Blitzboks for what they represented and how they performed, but to be honest, even after being invited to train with the squad in Cape Town, I did not expect the call-up," he recalled with a big smile.

"I played for the Academy side in Dubai the week before and it went well, but back then I was just trying to impress enough in order to be recalled to Stellenbosch.

"I had just graduated and sat my final exams, so I finally had time to focus on sevens, but I needed to get invited back again.

"The training went well that week, but I still did not expect a call-up, even when coach Philip did the one-on-one interviews with us. He told me that he was happy with my work and that I must be ready for my opportunity whenever it comes.

"I thanked him and got up to leave. As I reached the door of the room he told me: 'ander, that opportunity is this weekend in Cape Town'. It was the best news ever and I just hugged him."

Once in Vancouver, the preparation will start in earnest as New Zealand loom large for the Blitzboks in their opening pool game on Saturday. Reynders has not faced the Kiwi side before.

"I can't wait," he said. "Any rugby playing schoolboy in South Africa grows up playing the All Blacks somewhere in a back garden, pavement or rugby field and now it is my time to do it for real.

"I am not going to focus too much on them though, as I will have my own check list of things to do for my team first."

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