Long-serving Blitzbok coach, Neil Powell, talks about his final chapter with the Springbok Sevens arrange and his plans for the speedy future.
Blitzbok coach Neill Powell. Picture: Castle Lite
CAPE TOWN – Ahead of the vibey and vibrant Rugby World Cup Sevens developing in Cape Town in September, Springbok Sevens coach, Neil Powell, was a part of a particular locker room expertise with world companions, Castle Lite at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Wednesday.
Although the locker room is a well-known place for the silver haired coach, seeing the faces of the media as an alternative of his tournament-winning gamers was definitely a brand new encounter for Powell, who alongside with Castle Lite’s Marketing Director, Colleen Duvenage, introduced the Official Rugby World Cup Sevens ‘Fan Village’ which can give ticket holders that further little bit of enjoyable over the three days of Sevens motion, set to happen from Sep 11 September.
Springbok Sevens coach, Neil Powell, speaks to journalists in the locker room at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town. Picture: Castle Lite.
“The rugby fans around Mzansi need to bring their A-game to the Cape Town Stadium to witness a one-of-a-kind, adrenalin pumping, action-packed tournament in the history of the South African World Cup Sevens Rugby. I urge all rugby fans from all over Mzansi to keep it locked to their TV screens and keep up with all the action as it unfolds this September,” Powell mentioned at the launch.
This can be a bittersweet World Cup for him, as he bids farewell to the Sevens system after 15 years (each as participant after which as coach) to affix the Sharks as their new Director of Rugby at the conclusion of the match in September.
For now, although, it’s enterprise as regular. Between the preparations for the Sevens showpiece, the Blitzboks have simply returned from a profitable run at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham the place they walked away with a gold medal after triumphing over Fiji in the final. It is the second time that the South Africans received the competitors after additionally being topped champions at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
As we’ve come to know, on the subject, Sevens is an action-packed fast-paced recreation and due to that, the numerous groups’ schedules are simply as packed.
Coming up earlier than the World Cup, is the final leg of the HSBC World Sevens Series in Los Angeles between 27-28 August. Powell and his prices are gunning for the “treble” this season which incorporates the Commonwealth Games gold (which they’ve already received), profitable the World Sevens Series and lifting the trophy at the Rugby World Cup.
The LA Sevens is a crucial match for the workforce as they’re at present high of the collection standings heading into the final leg – solely two factors forward of Australia, who’re respiration down their necks, so nothing however a win will do.
On the scheduling, and the fast turnaround time, Powell says it’s not supreme: “If we had a choice, we would obviously have loved more time between the two [tournaments], because we know from experience of previous World Series coming back from LA or America or Canada, it does take a while to get over the jet lag.”
There are some positives with regards to the scheduling although: “I think LA and the group and the cross we’ll have at the quarterfinals will be the best preparation you can get for the World Cup, meaning that our first game will be against America, then we’ll play Canada and then New Zealand in the final game.
“If we get through those pool stages and we make it to the quarterfinal, you cross with Fiji and Ireland. So, it’s nice and tough, a massive challenge and if we can get through that challenge and still keep our momentum and confidence, that will contribute massively to what we want to achieve at the World Cup,” Powell concluded.
The Commonwealth Games did come at a value, says Powell: “We did pick up a few injuries, some of those players actually saw the specialist today. So, we will hopefully get feedback from those specialists by today or early tomorrow morning. I think the positive about the injuries is that if they are not available for LA [Los Angeles], they will then recover in time for the World Cup, so we will have them available for selection [for the World Cup].”
On a extra particular person observe, Powell’s Sevens chapter is coming to an finish quickly. When requested about it, he laughed and smiled however one can see the actuality is hitting house.
“It’s becoming more of a reality, to be honest. I had my moments in the Commonwealth Games already in my own room. It has become difficult, knowing it will come to an end in a few weeks’ time” he mentioned extra quietly.
“It’s obviously a special system and special people in the system.”
Powell, who’s the father of two boys (Josh and Caleb), can also be wanting ahead to a brand new chapter.
“I’m also ready for a new challenge. I think I’ve done what I could in the system, I’ve given what I could and now it’s time for a new challenge in a new environment.”
The Sharks’ new director of rugby can be heading to Durban straight after the Sevens season ends, the place a complete new problem awaits as he swaps Sevens for the extra conventional fifteen’s recreation.
In phrases of his successor at the Blitzboks, no announcement has been made concerning the new coach however it’s greater than possible that it will likely be somebody from inside the present system. Powell does consider that what he has constructed over the final 9 years as the coach can be taken care of.
“I know they haven’t announced the new coach or coaching staff yet, but I do believe that whoever is going to take over, the team will be in good hands and I think they will just build on what we have already achieved in the system.
“It’s going to be strange to be sitting on this side of the TV and watching the Springbok Sevens play, because I’ve been part of it for the last 15 years,” Powell mentioned smiling, “but I know the guys that will take over the coaching responsibilities will definitely look after the system from a culture perspective and on field.”
Culture is an enormous focus in the Springbok Sevens arrange. Every participant that enters the system is aware of how vital it’s to know your function as a person in a workforce and that for those who don’t do your job, the workforce suffers. Powell mentioned there are sometimes “dance-offs” in the changeroom forward of a recreation and he mentioned that when the gamers are in that temper, so to talk, he is aware of they’re centered and can do the inexperienced and gold proud.
In phrases of the present workforce, a whole lot of younger, new gamers are coming by, the likes of Christie Grobbelaar who’s solely 22-years-old, that means they could possibly be in the system for fairly some time and is a good place to construct from.
“That’s a positive thing, the youngsters are really putting their hand up and it’s guys that can still play for the next eight to 10 years still, like a Branco du Preez that made Sevens a career,” Powell added. He is aware of that the fifteens recreation is far more profitable and “flashy”, however it’s potential to stay with Sevens.
“Hopefully, some of those guys will make Sevens a career. We know that fifteens is a bit of a draw card for them and they want to play fifteens, but hopefully they can remain with the Sevens for a while.”
The Blitzboks are a massively fashionable workforce amongst followers throughout the globe, each time they run out on to the subject the stadium erupts with cheers and, in fact, Impi enjoying loudly. So, sticking with Sevens and the system that Powell and his teaching workers have so meticulously constructed over the final decade or so, should not be such a tricky selection.
Upcoming tournaments for the Springbok Sevens workforce:
HSBC World Sevens Series: Los Angeles Sevens, 27-28 August
Rugby World Cup Sevens (Cape Town), Sep 11 September