The Blitzboks will be in action on Thursday, needing a massive win over Japan and other results to also go their way to avoid elimination, in the men’s rugby sevens at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.
The South Africans take on Japan at 4pm. The Blitzboks lost their matches to Ireland and New Zealand on Wednesday, which left them precariously-placed ahead of their final Group A game.
The Blitzboks will need to beat Japan by a huge margin and then hope they still progress as one of the best third-placed teams.
Ireland beat the Blitzboks 10-5 in their tournament opener, before New Zealand dispatched their opponents in green and gold 17-5 late in the day.
Frank review from coach @snymanphilip after day one of @Paris2024. #ICYMI, a wrap of the day's play here: https://t.co/yu8QFYZ30G@OfficialTeamRSA pic.twitter.com/RwPJA1JGlP
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) July 24, 2024
No surprise
It should not come as a big surprise for the Blitzboks as they only managed to qualify for the Olympics through the back door.
The main shortcoming of the Blitzboks so far has been their inability to keep possession, while their defence has been average.
The only other South African in action on Thursday, is men’s archer Wian Roux.
The Tuks archer's first challenge in the ranking rounds will be to avoid finishing last. A last place finish in the ranking rounds will mean he has to face-off against one of the top-ranked archers in the knockout stages.
Wian’s father and coach, Patrick said: "The higher Wian can rank, the better because it means he will compete against someone his equal in his first elimination match. I back Wian in the elimination because he tends to be at his best,” said Patrick Roux.