Two Grahamstonians were very much in evidence during Saturday and Sunday’s HSBC Cape Town Sevens.
Two Grahamstonians were very much in evidence during Saturday and Sunday’s HSBC Cape Town Sevens.
Former Kingswood College pupil, Rosco Speckman was instrumental as South Africa recovered from a rocky start to win the tournament.
The Blitzbokke started slowly on the opening day with a 26-5 victory over Zimbabwe and a 14-12 loss to Kenya. Speckman came off the bench in both of these games, scoring in the first one.
Following the Kenya defeat, Speckman was elevated to the starting lineup for the crunch Pool B clash with England. The Blitzbokke beat a side featuring former Graeme College exchange student Dan Bibby 10-0 to go through to the Cup quarter-finals in second place.
From here, South Africa never looked back. They started Sunday off with a 25-5 win over Australia, with Speckman fundamental to setting up the third of five Blitzbok tries – scored by Philip Snyman.
Speckman both set up another Snyman try and scored one of his own in the 21-12 semi-final victory over France. He followed this impressive performance with two tries in a 29-14 final victory over Argentina.
“I just want to thank my parents for supporting me and my father for pushing me every day no matter what. I give God the glory and I’m just happy that I’m from Grahamstown,” said Speckman, when asked if he had anything to say to the town’s people.
Speckman said that, while he was nervous while lining up before running onto the field, he said he soon relaxed and played his normal game.
Speckman revealed that he took inspiration from a former Blitzbok who also came from Grahamstown, saying, “I follow Fabian’s [Juries’] footsteps. I wear number 10 and he was also number 10. I’m just blessed to be part of the Sevens”.
In other local representation, Grahamstown referee who is on the South African Rugby Union National Referee Panel, Sindile Ngcese, was an Assistant Referee at the Sevens tournament. Ngcese said, “The World stage is just unbelieveable on and off the field,” adding that his was a “mouthwatering experience”.
Ngcese added that as an official at a Sevens event “one has to be sharp all day”, as matches start in the morning and continue into the evening.
The Blitzbokke now sit joint first on the log with defending world champions Fiji, who recovered from a shock Cup quarter-final defeat to France to win the plate. Meanwhile, Scotland won the Bowl and Samoa claimed the Shield.
Neil Powell’s men will hope to put some distance between themselves and Fiji at the next tournament in Wellington, New Zealand, from 30 January – 1 February.
They have been drawn in a pool with the hosts, as well as Scotland and Russia. Should they carry over their form from Cape Town, the Blitzbokke will be a difficult team to beat.
sport@grocotts.co.za
