Blitzboks coach hails incredible team effort

The lifting of the Emirates Trophy on Saturday evening in Dubai was one thing, the knowledge that so many people worked so hard towards that moment was another, according to Springbok Sevens coach, Sandile Ngcobo, after the Blitzboks' 21-5 victory over Ireland in only his second tournament as coach.

Ngcobo described the team's latest triumph in the desert city as massively humbling, but also very satisfactory for the Blitzboks system. The tournament win also saw the Blitzboks jump to the top of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series log alongside Australia.

"I actually have no words... this is massive for our system and so rewarding for the hard work we have done... it is also a reward for the massive fight inside this group of players," Ngcobo said following the glitter of a fourth Dubai title on the trot for the Springbok Sevens, but a first for the newly appointed Blitzboks coach.

"There are so many things in the lead-up to a tournament like this that people will never see - how a group of players get together and work so hard for each other in order to be ready when the battle starts. This win will mean so much for our system and justified the fight the guys showed for each other.

"The effort we showed, that true example of fighting for each other, is what is making me so proud of this effort. I think we are 70% on potential at this stage, so there is still room for improvement and that will keep us honest."

Ngcobo said Friday evening's pool decider against Australia was as important as the Saturday matches because it gave his team the belief that they can compete against any team.

"They are such a composed team and another that really play for each other, so to trump them was a huge boost for us," explained the Blitzboks' coach.

"We needed to fight today, again, but we showed the courage of character of the badge and the jersey and that drove us. This win is for all that care about the team, our back room staff, our supporters, everyone

According to Siviwe Soyizwapi, the Blitzboks' captain, the team desperately needed the win in Dubai.

"We dug ourselves into a bit of a hole over the last couple of months, so this comes at a very appropriate time for us," said the Blitzboks' skipper.

"We worked hard back home and challenged each other and what the system demands of everyone. I would say this win came from hard work from within in our group."

Soyizwapi explained that the team culture and team identity carried them through the tournament.

"That is our default move, we know who we are as a team and what makes us perform," added Soyizwapi.

"We just reminded everyone again that the system will look after you if you do your part. This is such a wonderful feeling, we needed the result to justify the effort and it did. You have to play 100% at 100% of the time."

The South Africans return to Cape Town on Sunday and with their home tournament, the HSBC Cape Town Sevens just a week away, the SA Sevens captain made a passionate plea to local supporters to rally come out and support the team.

"This is our tournament and we want to repeat this in front of a packed stadium," he continued.

"We only get that one chance a year to play in front of our family, friends and supporters, so we want to make it special. We will enjoy tonight, but tomorrow the focus will shift to Cape Town and the prospect of playing in a stadium full of passionate South Africans."