Blitzboks name new-look squad ahead of Dubai defence

Springbok Sevens coach Sandile Ngcobo has made wholesale changes to his squad ahead of next week's Emirates Dubai Sevens tournament, where the Blitzboks are the defending champions.

Changes include the selection uncapped duo of Masande Mtshali and Ricardo Duarttee, as well as welcoming back Zain Davids, Muller du Plessis and James Murphy from injury.

Dalvon Blood, who made his debut at the France Sevens in Toulouse in May, is also included for his second tournament in Blitzbok colours.

Davids, Du Plessis and Murphy missed the opening leg of the World Series in Hong Kong earlier this month, where Ronald Brown and Selvyn Davids picked up injuries that have ruled them out of the trip to Dubai. Meanwhile, Mfundo Ndhlovu strained a calf muscle in training early in the week and was also ruled out of selection.

Mtshali represented Western Province in the SA Rugby Under-20 Cup on the wing earlier this year and has been training with the Blitzboks since, while Duarttee, a former Western Province Under-21 and Boland Cavaliers scrumhalf, was drafted from the SAS Sevens Academy into the national set-up following some impressive sessions with the senior side.

"I was impressed by their potential when I worked with them in our Academy set-up and got them involved when I started with the Blitzboks," said Ngcobo of the two uncapped players.

"Both are exciting prospects and I know they will do us proud in Dubai.

"It is great having Zain, James and Muller back from injury as they will be very keen to deliver good performances after missing out on the Hong Kong trip. They are proven World Series winners, so it is great to have them back and heavily involved in how we want to play in Dubai.

"Dalvon did really well in his opening tournament early in the year and was in contention for the Hong Kong trip, but then picked up a niggle and could not be considered. He is fast and elusive and love scoring tries, so we are also looking for some excitement from him coming into the squad."

Ngcobo was satisfied with the work done in Stellenbosch and was confident that the small glitches that hampered their progress in Hong Kong, where they placed tied seventh, are fixed.

"Look, this side is quite different from that one, but I know we prepared well," he said.

"Our pool is a tough one. Kenya is always a very physical African derby, Great Britain beat us in Hong Kong and Australia just continued with their great form to won their first title in Hong Kong.

"We are getting back to our feet after being knocked down in Hong Kong, so will have to make sure we trust the system and stick to our processes in order to be successful."

The Springbok Sevens squad for Dubai

Ryan OosthuizenImpi VisserZain DavidsJames MurphyJC PretoriusMasande MtshaliSiviwe Soyizwapi (captain)Branco du PreezDewald HumanShilton van WykDalvon BloodMuller du PlessisRicardo Duarttee