Blitzboks squad: Ngcobo hands Adonis his Cape Town debut

Springbok Sevens coach Sandile Ngcobo has included Darren Adonis in the Blitzboksâ™ playmaking role for this weekendâ™s HSBC Cape Town Sevens at DHL Stadium.

Adonisâ™ inclusion is the only change to the side that clinched the Emirates Dubai Sevens title last weekend as he replaces Dewald Human, who picked up a groin injury at The Sevens Stadium, which ruled him out of Cape Town, the third stop on the 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

Adonis is no stranger to the squad and played in the opening tournament of the series in Hong Kong last month; he will be involved in his ninth World Series tournament, but will make his first appearance in the Mother City.

The Southern Cape-raised player has won the Currie Cup with the Toyota Cheetahs before he moved to sevens rugby and since joining the Blitzboks, Adonis has won gold medals in Vancouver, Edmonton, Malaga and Seville.

Ngcobo said the inclusion of Adonis will not affect the momentum picked up in Dubai.

âœDarren has trained with us before we left for Dubai and then played there as well as part of the Samurai (SA Sevens â˜Aâ™ team) in the invitational tournament. I managed to watch those games and he did very well, so I am happy to have him,❠the coach explained.

âœHe covers flyhalf and centre and he kicks with both feet, so he brings a versatility element to the squad as well. Darren is experienced enough to slot in immediately and has done very well.â

Ngcobo said the focus for the team will remain inward, with a clear understanding of how they want to express themselves at the DHL Stadium.

âœWe have two identities â- one on the field and one off the field,❠he said. âœIn the latter, it is about being a brotherhood, caring for each other and driving a shared culture. We are nailing that one, so that drives us forward very well.

âœThe on-field identity is defence, we do not want people to score tries against us and if they do, they need to work really hard for it. We want to be dominant in defence and that attitude will not change this weekend.â

The Springbok Sevens squad

Impi VisserZain DavidsRyan OosthuizenJames MurphyJC PretoriusMasande MtshaliBranco du PreezRicardo DuarrteeDarren AdonisMuller Du PlessisShilton van WykDalvon BloodSiviwe Soyizwapi (captain)

Springbok Sevens pool fixtures

Friday 9 December

20h03: Canada

Saturday 10 December

11h19: Fiji17h00: France

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings

South Africa, Australia - 32 pointsFrance - 30 pointsIreland - 29 pointsFiji, USA - 27 pointsNew Zealand, Argentina, Samoa - 25 points