Darren Adonis (Photo by David Van Der Sandt/Gallo Images)
Head coach Sandile Ngcobo has cast Darren Adonis in the Blitzboks’ playmaking role for the Cape Town Sevens this weekend.
Adonis replaced the injured Dewald Human in the only change for the South African team that won the Dubai Sevens last weekend.
Adonis already played for the Blitzboks in the World Sevens Series this year in the Hong Kong Sevens. While this is his first appearance in Cape Town, it will be his ninth World Series tournament for the national team.
The Southern Cape-bred player won the Currie Cup with the Cheetahs before switching to rugby sevens, and since joining the Blitzboks, Adonis has won gold medals in Vancouver, Edmonton, Malaga and Seville.
Ngcobo said the inclusion of Adonis would not affect the momentum gained in Dubai.
“Darren trained with us before we went to Dubai and then played there as part of the Samurai (SA Sevens A team) in the invitational tournament. I got to watch those games and he did really well so I’m happy to have him.” him”, explained the technician.
“He covers midfield and centre, and kicks with both feet, so he also brings an element of versatility to the team. Darren has enough experience to fit in right away and has done very well.”
Ngcobo said the team’s focus would remain inward, with a clear understanding of how they want to express themselves over the weekend.
“We have two identities: one on the field and one off the field,” he said.
“In the latter, it’s about being a brotherhood, looking out for one another, and driving a shared culture. We are nailing that, so that propels us forward very well.
“The identity on the pitch is defence, we don’t want people to try for us, and if they do, they have to work very hard to achieve that. We want to be dominant in defence, and that attitude won’t change this weekend.” .”
Springbok Sevens team:
Impi Visser – 23 tournaments, 118 games, 125 points (25 tries)
Zain Davids – 34 tournaments, 170 games, 160 points (32 tries)
Ryan Oosthuizen – 34 tournaments, 163 games, 165 points (33 tries)
James Murphy – 10 tournaments, 46 games, 50 points (10 tries)
JC Pretorius – 22 tournaments, 116 games, 245 points (49 tries)
Masande Mtshali – 1 tournament, 1 match
Branco du Preez – 84 tournaments, 426 games, 1442 points (101 tries, 466 conversions, 1 drop goal)
Ricardo Duarrtee – 1 tournament, 6 games, 30 points (4 tries, 5 conversions)
Darren Adonis – 8 tournaments, 33 games, 54 points (10 tries, 2 conversions)
Muller Du Plessis – 21 tournaments, 98 games, 325 points (65 tries)
Shilton van Wyk – 6 tournaments, 34 games, 50 points (10 tries)
Dalvon Blood – 2 tournaments, 10 games, 25 points (5 tries)
Siviwe Soyizwapi (captain) — 42 tournaments, 221 games, 690 points (138 tries)
Springbok Sevens Pool Accessories:
Friday, December 9
20:03: Canada
Saturday, December 10
11:19 a.m.: Fiji
17:00: France
World Rugby Sevens Series Standings:
32: South Africa, Australia
30: France
29: Ireland
27: Fiji, USA
25: New Zealand, Argentina, Samoa
